Walking the Hillary Trail
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A group of youngsters wanting to emulate their hero Sir Edmund Hillary got the chance to be the first to do the tramp named after him.
The Hillary Trail was opened to the public on January 11 and 18 youths from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Hillary Award youth programme were first to set out on the 70km hike.
Expedition leader Gemma Wood says the walk is breathtaking.
"It’s absolutely fantastic what they’ve done out here by linking all of it together."
The 28-year-old Blockhouse Bay resident has been tramping since she was 14 and says the trail isn’t easy.
"It’s definitely no walk in the park. And it’s a lot more challenging than walks like the Milford or the Heaphy tracks."
The Hillary family’s long association with the Waitakere Ranges goes back to 1925 when Sir Edmund’s father-in-law Jim Rose built a bach at Anawhata.
Sir Edmund also hoped to see a series of public tracks connecting Huia and Muriwai.
Gemma’s mother Kathryn Wood is a co-ordinator for the west Auckland branch of the Duke of Edinburgh Hillary Award programme.
Kathryn says when she heard about the proposed trail she knew her group had to be involved.
"The qualities that Sir Ed Hillary had are what the Duke of Edinburgh Award is
all about," she says.
And she’s proud her young charges are pioneers like their hero.
"It gives these young people the chance to be the first at something, just like he was first to climb Mt Everest."
Phone the ARC on 366-2000 for more information about the Hillary Trail and campsite booking details.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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