Ruapehu lahar survivor heads back to summit

Just one week after being fitted with a prosthetic leg, William Pike was rock climbing again. Photo / Doug Sherring

The mother of a mountaineer who lost a leg during a lahar eruption on Mt Ruapehu has spoken of her pride at his brave attempt to return to the summit today.

Auckland schoolteacher William Pike, 27, and fellow eruption survivor James Christie, 26, are accompanying 10 students from Taupo's Hilltop School back to the crater lake where the pair nearly lost their lives.

"It's a huge day for William, particularly as James is going back there with him," William's mum Tracy said. "Without James, he wouldn't be doing this today.

"My husband Barry and I are just so in awe of them both."

The two climbers were sleeping inside Dome Shelter when the mountain erupted in September 2007. They hadn't realised the hut was within the summit hazard zone being hit by volcanic debris.

Heavy mud, lake water and flying boulders swamped the hut, trapping Pike and crushing his leg.

Christie was later awarded the New Zealand Bravery Medal for saving his friend. He had walked an hour down the slope to alert emergency services.

Pike had his right leg amputated after being airlifted to Waitako Hospital by helicopter.

Tracy insisted her boy "never had a negative moment" during his long and painful recovery. His attitude had been "outstanding'' throughout, she added.

She said William wasn't sure whether he would be able to make it all the way to the summit today because his remaining leg still isn't back to full strength.

But she believed that the schoolkids on the climb - nicknamed Pikelets - would spur him on.

"William is very fit, swims four times a week and does a lot of bush walking, but this is going to be real test for him,'' she explained.

"He joked beforehand that James can carry the load for him and he'll just go up with just his poles."

Tracy said she texted both men good luck messages before they set out on the final stage of climb early this morning

"I said to William 'this is your day, just go for it' and to James I said 'thank you for being the best mate'."

Tracy also said that a large piece of volcanic rock believed to have struck William has pride of place in her Forrest Hill garden. It serves as a permanent reminder of his dramatic brush with death.

"I sometimes just go out there and look at it. We also have a small jar filled with lahar dust from The Dome and feathers that came from William's down jacket that had to be cut off him when he was rescued.

"William doesn't bother too much about these things but they are nice for us to have.''

Pike and Christie stayed last night on the mountain and planned to get to the summit today.

"If they get to The Dome, I'm sure they will both have a quiet moment to themselves, to remember just what happened," Tracy added.