Tuesday, May 3, 2016

Returning to Rangitoto




Walking up Rangitoto had been on my list of things to do for a long time. The last time I walked up I was about 12 years old; so 28 years later I finally tackled it again.

I think that the reason it took so long to return to Rangitoto and walk to the summit was fear. I remember how much I moaned the entire way up to the summit and I was absolutely petrified that I would feel the same, that it would be hard and I would inevitably moan.

Well it turns out that when you tell friends that you want to walk up Rangitoto they will ‘lock-in’ a date with you!

Leading up to the 17th January 2016 I really felt a huge sense of trepidation and I really considered backing out. Fortunately for me, I was walking with Mark and our friend Janna and I really think that she knew that there was a possibility that I would try and pull out at the last minute. I did not.

The greatest things from the day were:

  • Reaching the top without much moaning
  • There was no real pressure to get to the summit within a set time frame
  • Having super supportive people to walk with
  • We took the shorter/direct route to the top and then took the longer way down and around Rangitoto
  • Seeing how excited Mark was about walking to the top; he took so many photos


Photo from Janna
It made me sad at how unfit/out of shape I have become and I am trying to get back into the gym again.

Janna suggested that I go back in a year and walk to the summit and see if it is easier and I can do it quicker.




So a huge thank you to Mark and Janna for getting me back there; it only took a few decades!