This was the first mountain we climbed in New Zealand - looking back now, we must have been crazy. If we’d done more research, we might not have dared to come. Sometimes that’s how it goes - you listen to inexperienced people and make wrong decisions. Unsure if our fitness could handle it, and needing to return the same day, we set off in the dark at 3-4am, drove 40 minutes to the trailhead, and being unfamiliar with everything, spent ages just finding the entrance.

The first half is an extremely steep limestone path. By this point, you can usually catch sunrise with golden light on the summit - absolutely beautiful. After passing the hut, conditions become dangerous - all scree slopes where you take one step forward and slide two back, with no shelter at all. You must cover yourself completely to avoid sunburn. Near the top is a permanently frozen section that you need to cross to summit. We only brought energy bars - I’d suggest bringing proper lunch, otherwise there’s nothing to do at the summit and it feels a bit empty.

Descending was the scariest part - the scree makes you slide two steps for every one you take. Many people just sit down and slowly slide. This is where gloves become essential for supporting yourself. The whole trip took about 12 hours, and our shoes were nearly destroyed afterward. Strongly advise against canvas shoes - you need thick-soled, durable footwear.