Crossing Tongariro

The sun was shining, the birds singing, a great day to cross Tongariro. The bus picked us up from our door step and we stepped on as tourists for the day. By the time we had arrived at the starting point around Whakapapa side of the mountain there was already an ants trail of people on the track ahead. Paul took this as a sign to pick up the pace almost immediately so we only saw a green blurry dot in the distance followed closely by a dark hair curly sue.

Tom and I had walked the crossing before in our younger years and isn't it funny how time distorts your memory? I did however remember the devils staircase, with a name like that who couldn't? It always seemed the top was right there and then not. I couldn't get over how many people were on the track so it was quite crowded and slow. However we did notice the Department of Conservation are building a new easier track to replace the nature made steps elsewhere.

Finally we reached the top and rewarded ourselves with vegie and lamb sammies before trekking to the base of Mt Doom - oh I mean Mt Ngauruhoe. Personally I thought we were mad. It just went straight up, with a gravel like surface and no path. The climb wasn't pleasant but the view was worth it. You could see Lake Taupo in the distance and a lot of the crossing we had yet to complete. Paul and Tom discovered snow at the summit which was a surprise with the temperature. The run down and I do mean run was a little scary but for the most part fun? Well the boys enjoyed it.

After our two hour excursion up and down we emptied our boots and set off across the Yellow Crater at great speed to make up the time we had lost. Paul and Lauren kept the pace which was a little faster than mine which Tom kept me company on, it must be the short legs I tell ya! We made it up to the Red Crater which is beautiful in its rich colouring and you are at the highest point on the walk so the view is great. The walk down to the Emerald Lakes wasn't too shabby either, just magical - I now see why Peter Jackson used the National Park in Lord of the Rings.

With not much time left on the clock we continued to the Blue Lake which was a nice picnic stop for our second half of our lunch and a cookie or two! The sun continued to shine and with no shade took its toll on our faces and legs. My nickname for the next month was burny and then apache. Nice one guys. Lauren stated it was all down hill from then on so we set off again for the last part of the journey. Down hill sounds great but with large steps you have to jump down on the track surface takes its toll the next day let me tell you.

Walking along you think of many things and low and behold I thought of 7th form geography and the different flora found at different altitudes and how much it changes from top to bottom. I didn't know I had this kind of information in me or maybe by that point I was mildly delirious from the sun and exercise. We will never know. With time running out we stopped quickly for the first toilet break in hours and to refill our water bottles at Ketetahi Hut. From memory I knew we had to reach the forest before we were even close to the parking area and end of the walk so once we reached the bush, Tom and I started running. Paul and Lauren were a wee way ahead so we had to make up time for shortleg syndrome. Running and tramping boots aren't the way to go but the fear of missing the bus was too great so the jog went on. We reached the parking lot and saw Paul and Lauren (so they hadn't left without us) and the bus driver who was just happy to hang.

The bus driver dropped us home with relief to our feet. So we all got cleaned up for a relaxing swim at the Powerhorn Hotel and then later a flash dinner at the Matterhorn upstairs. All I can say is the wine tasted divine and both the boys ate three lots of four lamb cutlets and only then were satisfied. A good reward for a good days walking.

G