Tongariro Crossing

Trip Start Nov 03, 2007
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Trip End Dec 07, 2007


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Sunday, November 25, 2007

Early for breakfast, late for bus due to the incredibly slow toaster!  Only another 3 people going anyway.  Fi got walking poles before the bus raced away!
Bus dropped us off at the start with the instruction "just head for that saddle", miles or what!!
Walking over lava flow into valley bowl - straight forward, heat even at 9am was immense - hard work.  Got to Soda Springs ahead of schedule (last loo stop before the Ketatahi Hut many moons away).  Tough climb ahead up the Devils Staircase, lots of people, very rocky! Had to be mindful of where feet were going.  Managed to get to top (finally) and could see right across valley bowl, even over to Mount Taranaki on the West Coast. Good flat section across a large crater! Then another climb up an exposed ridge.  Lots of loose scree underfoot. Fi tackled really well! Red crater full of amazing colours, hope photos do it justice.  Up to the final peak then down a major scree slope - weeeeeee ......  ow! down to the Emerald Lakes for lunch (very smelly - lakes not lunch!).  Slight uphill to the Blue lake then down and down to the Ketatahi Hut.  Final section after the Hut took forever, although it was through lovely shaded forest with a rushing stream and waterfalls.  Finished in 7 hours 22 mins - yipee! (not that we were counting).
Back for shower and tea - fish and chips in the pub with lovely cold beer sat on squashy sofas with shoes off!
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