Logs for GuanoGerbil
12-Sep-24
Nice work, Salty. But yeah, it needs to be done once the snow and ice is completely clear. You really don't want to go up there in any other conditions than that unless you're appropriately equipped and experienced. And it will be buried then anyway.I went up there again a few months ago and found an alternative route that goes out to the right of the cave. There's an obvious low point you can see which is a more solid scramble up than the loose tunnel route
04-Sep-23
Standing on the top of the north island is a privilege indeed, and not to be abused. Any cachers who are awesome enough to have the gear and experience to get up there in winter conditions to find the cache is buried under the guano, please provide proof that you are worthy of the respect earned in doing so. A summit selfie or a photo with an elevation reading on your phone or device would be nice. Otherwise your post may be removed.
Thanks so much for that lovely photo, lanthanein. What a gorgeous day that was, huh? I took a couple of beginners up Tongariro then - I thought I could see you waving from up there!
Thanks so much for that lovely photo, lanthanein. What a gorgeous day that was, huh? I took a couple of beginners up Tongariro then - I thought I could see you waving from up there!
15-Jan-22
24-May-21
03-Apr-20
23-Mar-20
26-Dec-19
21-Oct-19
Sounds like this one's gone... probably time to open this spot up for others anyway
Sounds like this one's gone... probably time to open this spot up for others anyway
28-Aug-19
Looks like this one has gone, so archiving as I think it's done it's time anyway
19-Mar-19
Wow, I am truly humbled to have one of my caches selected for such milestones for you both! Congratulations - I really admire your determination
07-Sep-18
I was up Ngauruhoe a couple of weekends ago - a nice walk up the southern side past Tama Lakes for a change. Happy to flick you GPX files or help with anything else
03-Sep-18
Sorry I missed you, SaltyCacheNutZ. Yes, you would have had some serious difficulty trying to retrieve this cache under all the ice at the moment!
I use Memory Map on my desktop to do these maps, and I use FreshMap with topos on my GPS when out and about. The two systems work together beautifully.
I use Memory Map on my desktop to do these maps, and I use FreshMap with topos on my GPS when out and about. The two systems work together beautifully.
18-Mar-18
Well done on Santa's Surprise, fanfan-77. Sorry to snatch the highest cache prize from your fingers. It just means you'll have to come back now! Which is precisely my motivation for placing these caches - "B**" that I am
I wouldn't recommend trying to connect the two caches in the one day. You can get to Tahurangi from Dome via the crater rim, but it means crossing the glacier to do so. Depending on conditions, you would almost certainly need an ice axe, and quite possibly crampons even this time of year to do that. Even then it's a long and sometimes tricky rock scramble after that. And then you've still got to come back, which would make it a very, very long day. You're much better going up from Turoa side. But no cheating there either sorry, the chairlifts won't take you up that side either
I wouldn't recommend trying to connect the two caches in the one day. You can get to Tahurangi from Dome via the crater rim, but it means crossing the glacier to do so. Depending on conditions, you would almost certainly need an ice axe, and quite possibly crampons even this time of year to do that. Even then it's a long and sometimes tricky rock scramble after that. And then you've still got to come back, which would make it a very, very long day. You're much better going up from Turoa side. But no cheating there either sorry, the chairlifts won't take you up that side either
09-Mar-18
Coordinates changed from:
S 39° 16.521 E 175° 33.817
Coordinates changed to:
S 39° 16.513 E 175° 33.809
Distance from original: 61.6 feet or 18.8 meters.
New replacement cache location - thanks Greenblat!
S 39° 16.521 E 175° 33.817
Coordinates changed to:
S 39° 16.513 E 175° 33.809
Distance from original: 61.6 feet or 18.8 meters.
New replacement cache location - thanks Greenblat!
18-Feb-18
Alas, after hearing about Dome Shelters imminent removal for years, it's finally happening. Sounds like the cache has gone, so disabling for now
01-Nov-17
03-Jul-17
18-Mar-17
12-May-16
11-May-15
Time to retire this one and open this awesome spot up to someone else to play with
29-Mar-15
28-Mar-15
Found cache on ground as previous finder. New logbook added and cache replaced where it should be
09-Feb-15
Yes, Gr33nslime, Wilderness approached me for some beta on this hell hole before tackling it themselves. I think I'm even immortalised in their resulting article somewhere
16-Jan-15
Cache replaced and good to go. Sorry about the delay - not that anyone should be wanting to find this anyway!
06-Jan-15
Bugger - how could that have possibly gone?! Oh well, I guess this means I need to go back for a return visit soon
05-Jan-15
Wow, those routes you attempted, Paul are definately not recommended. Yes, I can imagine a spare pair of trousers were required urgently! Although, there is a route appropriately called Traverse of the Gods which links those two pinnacles together along by the saddle between. I had a look last summer and decided that could only be a winter route - too crumbly to attempt this in summer conditions. In winter it's apparently technically not difficult, but with the big exposure on the way you'd need balls of steel. Maybe a recce next time winter...
04-Jan-15
Coordinates changed from:
S 37° 46.475 E 175° 17.482
Coordinates changed to:
S 37° 46.487 E 175° 17.493
Distance from original: 90 feet or 27.4 meters.
Cache moved slightly after a muggling. Coverage is sketchy in this bush, so coordinates may not be very accurate. Clue (and spoiler) will clarify if in doubt
S 37° 46.475 E 175° 17.482
Coordinates changed to:
S 37° 46.487 E 175° 17.493
Distance from original: 90 feet or 27.4 meters.
Cache moved slightly after a muggling. Coverage is sketchy in this bush, so coordinates may not be very accurate. Clue (and spoiler) will clarify if in doubt
30-Dec-14
Looking forward to seeing this one finally being found. Will be watching with interest!
30-Nov-14
And don't forget, Paul, that one of them has been sitting for nearly 9 months already and is still awaiting a FTF
01-Aug-14
Sorry guys - I´m in Bolivia and just got back down from the mountains and currently recovering from pneumonia. Will be back home in a week and will sort out cache shortly after. Sorry for the frustration out there
14-Apr-14
Nice photos, Paul. But that chute you said not to go up looks vaguely familiar... see my picture added of Vinodrinker going up there last time
09-Apr-14
Well done Paul! Yes, this is a lovely stroll for those cachers who want a big, fun filled day out, but don't want to walk too far. And that has got to be one of the most entertaining logs I've come across yet
Kudos for going up the first chute - I didn't even attempt that one. And thinking back now, I think there must have actually been 3 options to consider. On my last trip out there with Vinodrinker, he shot up the 2nd one, thinking that must have been it, but had to bail after it all got a bit too dodgy. So we traversed on around further thinking there might be an easier way up the back, when we came across another chute further around. THAT was the way I went up last time. This one takes you to the top of the saddle in between the two humps. It's steep going, but abundant lovely flax to haul on, before the angle eases and gets easier near the top. Looking down from the top, it looks like carrying on further right around to the far side of the humps could be another, albeit longer way up. So in other words, if you're in doubt whether you're looking at the right route up, keep going around.
Kudos for going up the first chute - I didn't even attempt that one. And thinking back now, I think there must have actually been 3 options to consider. On my last trip out there with Vinodrinker, he shot up the 2nd one, thinking that must have been it, but had to bail after it all got a bit too dodgy. So we traversed on around further thinking there might be an easier way up the back, when we came across another chute further around. THAT was the way I went up last time. This one takes you to the top of the saddle in between the two humps. It's steep going, but abundant lovely flax to haul on, before the angle eases and gets easier near the top. Looking down from the top, it looks like carrying on further right around to the far side of the humps could be another, albeit longer way up. So in other words, if you're in doubt whether you're looking at the right route up, keep going around.
30-Mar-14
Yes, it was a lovely day up there Alagos - did you see me waving? I was the one jumping crevasses on my way around the back of the lake.
Well done Debgoonan family. I first took my son up there when he was 8 and had to piggyback him up the last bit to the shelter. So age 7 is impressive indeed!
This entry was edited by GuanoGerbil on Tuesday, 01 April 2014 at 20:15:17 UTC.
Well done Debgoonan family. I first took my son up there when he was 8 and had to piggyback him up the last bit to the shelter. So age 7 is impressive indeed!
This entry was edited by GuanoGerbil on Tuesday, 01 April 2014 at 20:15:17 UTC.
03-Nov-13
Nice to see you again Zorgon! Aroha and I have become very good friends lately, and have been spending a lot of time together. Only an easy day for me today - I did it 3 times last Saturday and 5 times before that
08-Sep-13
Well spotted, Paul. When climbing up here I was thinking about Niklas for some reason and how much he would have enjoyed this. Very surprised (and a bit spooky) to find his name inscribed into the sign at the summit when I got there. "Pure Pleasure" was a phrase of his that he reserved for special little fun sections just like this one
07-Apr-13
Nice work, Brother - looks a little brisk all right! I was in the neighbourhood the next day, and it was obviously a little nicer
16-Feb-13
Just when I thought I'd seen everything on Pirongia, suddenly this secret gem is revealed. This looked just so awesome that it prompted me out of geocaching retirement especially!
Dennis & I opted for a leisurely start to the day, and decided to take the longer Bell track / bush bash way in first. I was planning on going into the bush higher up the track originally, but the supplejack was beginning to get a little intimidating up there. As there used to be a hut back at the clearing, I thought there may be the remains of a track linking that to the waterfall from there (I was wrong). So we returned to the clearing and jumped in from that point which looked relatively open. We very soon met our nemesis never-the-less of the inevitable supplejack, plus a sprinkling of bush lawyer and bastard grass just to keep it interesting. The traverse we were aiming for proved too slow, so we ended up just going for the stream and then bashing our way up from there. Not a lot easier, and next time I think I would try going in a little higher up the Bell track first and try to cut a more direct line through the supplejack fortress from there. Take care you don't come out at the top of the falls though - it looks a very steep scramble down to the bottom from up there.
The falls were absolutely stunning - much better than I expected. This really is a gem, and the effort to get in and out of here again is well worth it. The cache itself is in a great spot, and the clue made it a very obvious place to look (welcome for those of us still using old technology in the bush). A lovely spot for a family picnic
After the bush bash in, we thought the stream bash out would be relatively easy. Not so - still pretty hard going and we found it quicker to bush bash alongside for much of it instead.
The caves on the way in, and the giant Kahikatea on the way out were extra points of interest which made it a 'nice' loop to do - highly recommended for all sick puppies out there. It took us about 8 hours all up to do the 20km circuit.
Many thanks Zorgon - this cache is absolute gold. Now THIS is what geocaching is all about!
Dennis & I opted for a leisurely start to the day, and decided to take the longer Bell track / bush bash way in first. I was planning on going into the bush higher up the track originally, but the supplejack was beginning to get a little intimidating up there. As there used to be a hut back at the clearing, I thought there may be the remains of a track linking that to the waterfall from there (I was wrong). So we returned to the clearing and jumped in from that point which looked relatively open. We very soon met our nemesis never-the-less of the inevitable supplejack, plus a sprinkling of bush lawyer and bastard grass just to keep it interesting. The traverse we were aiming for proved too slow, so we ended up just going for the stream and then bashing our way up from there. Not a lot easier, and next time I think I would try going in a little higher up the Bell track first and try to cut a more direct line through the supplejack fortress from there. Take care you don't come out at the top of the falls though - it looks a very steep scramble down to the bottom from up there.
The falls were absolutely stunning - much better than I expected. This really is a gem, and the effort to get in and out of here again is well worth it. The cache itself is in a great spot, and the clue made it a very obvious place to look (welcome for those of us still using old technology in the bush). A lovely spot for a family picnic
After the bush bash in, we thought the stream bash out would be relatively easy. Not so - still pretty hard going and we found it quicker to bush bash alongside for much of it instead.
The caves on the way in, and the giant Kahikatea on the way out were extra points of interest which made it a 'nice' loop to do - highly recommended for all sick puppies out there. It took us about 8 hours all up to do the 20km circuit.
Many thanks Zorgon - this cache is absolute gold. Now THIS is what geocaching is all about!
12-Feb-13
Wow, that is something I didn't know about - awesome!
It's been over 6 months since I've found any caches, so this just might be the inspiration I need to go get one
It's been over 6 months since I've found any caches, so this just might be the inspiration I need to go get one
10-Feb-13
It's been a couple of years, so I thought a spot of cache maintenance may be in order. I brought along Vinodrinker & OmaGosh for backup. Although, it's only a 5km round trip - how hard could it be, right? 
It's obviously such a popular walk that we even found an alternative track on the way back which made a nice scenic loop. Highly recommended. So much so, that I think the others were a little disappointed when the call was made to bush bash our way back to the other track - we were all really just starting to enjoy the crawling. The clambering over/under/falling through the prickly scrub added some well enjoyed variety before reaching the welcoming embrace of the beloved cutty grass on the other track. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that it we didn't want to leave, and didn't get back to the car until 7 hours later. Our average travel rate of 0.7km/hour shows just how much we revelled in this unique delight and wanted to prolong the pleasure as long as possible.
Needless to say, due to the puzzling lack of finds, the cache is still as good as new.
It's obviously such a popular walk that we even found an alternative track on the way back which made a nice scenic loop. Highly recommended. So much so, that I think the others were a little disappointed when the call was made to bush bash our way back to the other track - we were all really just starting to enjoy the crawling. The clambering over/under/falling through the prickly scrub added some well enjoyed variety before reaching the welcoming embrace of the beloved cutty grass on the other track. In fact, we enjoyed it so much that it we didn't want to leave, and didn't get back to the car until 7 hours later. Our average travel rate of 0.7km/hour shows just how much we revelled in this unique delight and wanted to prolong the pleasure as long as possible.
Needless to say, due to the puzzling lack of finds, the cache is still as good as new.
28-Jan-13
You've always been a sick puppy, Vino. That was definately confirmed today after dragging the wife and kids up here as well - a fun family outing!
07-Jan-13
Wow, sounds like a bit of an epic, Novalightning! I don't recall seeing any stream access sign. Note to any other potential Maratoto Monster fodder - please make sure you take note of the parking coordinates!
You obviously didn't learn your lesson after tackling The Crooked Rock cache, and even after reading Zorgon's log about that one. You must be truly addicted to the pain and perils of sick-puppy caching - mmwaahahaaaa!
After both of you being spanked recently, maybe you and Zorgon need to team up and have a go at joining the 'The World's Worst Tramp' club. Sounds like this one must have your name on it...
You obviously didn't learn your lesson after tackling The Crooked Rock cache, and even after reading Zorgon's log about that one. You must be truly addicted to the pain and perils of sick-puppy caching - mmwaahahaaaa!
After both of you being spanked recently, maybe you and Zorgon need to team up and have a go at joining the 'The World's Worst Tramp' club. Sounds like this one must have your name on it...
05-Jan-13
Found both the cache and the mugglebook nestled together in plain view at GZ. Popped the cache back out of view as it should be. The 2 x TB's are still there, but no geocoins.
Replaced the almost full mugglebook (another great read!) and placed back against the trasmission tower.
A LOT of people on the hill today!
Replaced the almost full mugglebook (another great read!) and placed back against the trasmission tower.
A LOT of people on the hill today!
30-Dec-12
Sorry guys, this one's gone-burger. Bit of a payne 'n diaz to replace, so now archived
Cache replaced and all good to go. Don't forget your retrieval tool
26-Dec-12
13-Dec-12
Wow, what an epic, Zorgon! I can just see your story on the next 'I shouldn't be alive' episode - it's only a matter of time before a geocacher appears on there
Kudos on your determination to finish the job despite the perils - well done! Hillary himself said he never felt as if he'd had a good climb unless he's been scared out of his wits at least twice.
Kudos on your determination to finish the job despite the perils - well done! Hillary himself said he never felt as if he'd had a good climb unless he's been scared out of his wits at least twice.
