Trip leaders: Emily Shrosbree and Nathan Earp
Syme Hut sits at 2100m on the southeast flank of Taranaki and makes for a comfortable overnight base before a summit attempt via the Southeast Ridge. The route involves sustained time on snow above the snowline, with crampons and ice axe required. A good early-summer objective for those looking to build alpine experience on a familiar volcano.
Prerequisites: Snowcraft 1 or equivalent experience on snow terrain. Participants should be comfortable with crampons and ice axe before the trip, and fit enough for a long day of elevation gain on icy terrain.
Note: Over winter months when snow and ice are present, this route is not the beginner snowcraft graduate's tick that social media portrays it to be. It can be serious terrain - low angle yet high consequence mountaineering. On this south facing aspect, expect hard surface conditions. Significant riming is common. Many people have taken slides down here, some fatal, so you have to know how to stay on your feet and how to self-arrest!
