Questioning the safety of Taranaki Maunga for mountain climbing?
Mount Taranaki, the iconic volcanic cone in the North Island, is a popular destination for walkers, trampers, and climbers. However, like many mountainous regions, it comes with its own set of risks.
In the past decade, Mount Taranaki has seen five fatalities, with one death on the Lower Lake Dive Track (river crossing), two on a winter climbing trip on the East face, and two attempting to climb the Mount Taranaki Summit Track in winter. This makes it the second highest mountain in terms of the number of people requiring search and rescue assistance, only surpassed by the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
The Mount Taranaki Summit Track on the north side of the mountain is the only marked path to the summit and the only one recommended for trampers. In 2017-18, the Mountain Safety Council (MSC) identified the Mount Taranaki Summit Track as a key safety concern and rolled out prevention initiatives. These included the installation of specialist signage, development of a safety video, and impact research.
The MSC's top six evidence-based recommendations for trampers without mountaineering skills, experience, and equipment attempting to reach the summit of Taranaki include: only considering the Mount Taranaki Summit Track, not attempting in anything other than perfect weather, leaving early, stopping every hour to re-assess, only attempting between January and April, and watching the Mount Taranaki Summit Route safety video.
The Mount Taranaki Summit Route Tramping Video, released in 2018, has been viewed approximately 66,000 times and has contributed to a decrease in safety incidents on the route.
Comparatively, the Tongariro Alpine Crossing has had two fatalities since 2007. Between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2017, there were 7 tramping and mountaineering accidents reported on the Mount Taranaki Summit Track, and the total number of such accidents in New Zealand during this period was approximately 350. This means that one out of 1,736 trampers on the Mount Taranaki Summit Track required search and rescue assistance, compared with one out of 2,250 trampers on the Tongariro Alpine Crossing.
It's important to note that since 2007, not including the two recent fatalities on Taranaki Maunga, there have been 75 tramping related fatalities and 48 mountaineering related fatalities in New Zealand. The Tararua Southern Crossing has seen the most fatalities of any single tramping track in New Zealand since 2007, with five deaths. The three popular southern Great Walks of the Kepler Track, Milford Track, and Routeburn Track have all had two fatalities each since 2007.
Historical records suggest more than 80 deaths on Taranaki Maunga, making it the second highest behind Aoraki/Mt Cook in terms of fatalities. However, this article only uses data since 2007 for more accurate comparisons.
In conclusion, while Mount Taranaki is a breathtaking destination, it's crucial for trampers to be well-prepared and aware of the risks involved. The MSC's initiatives and safety recommendations provide valuable guidance for those planning to conquer the mountain.
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