Whakapapa 11/1 20.45

Back from two great days in Tongariro National Park. We left the campsite at 11.30 sunday morning and drove to the carpark near Ketetahi Hut, situated at around 700m above sea. We then started tramping up to the Ketetahi hut at 1480m through a forest that looked almost like jungle. Suddenly the forest stopped, and gave way to low bushes and grasses, and this continued all the way to the hut where we left sleeping bags and food, and kept on the Tongariro Crossing track to the Red Crater at 1886m. The weather was quite harsh, winds around 20m/s made it pretty cold standing still. The view was magnificent though, looking out from the vulcanos on the lowland. We all agreed why they chose this particular area for Mordor in Lord of the Rings, it is truly deserted and unwelcoming. We walked back to the hut again, had diner and went to bed around 22.00.

This morning we got up and had breakfast at 8.00, and started out climb up to Red Crater once again at 9.15. The weather was still very windy (still around 20m/s), and at Red Crater it started snowing. The snowflakes were more like small ice crystals, all hitting the right cheek like small needles. Rough, but very exciting as well - outdoor life is a bit too easy if it is only carried out in good weather conditions. The last climb up to Red Crater was extremely sandy and loose, although it had gotten wet due to heavy rain at night.

When we headed down Red Crater it looked like the weather was clearing a bit, but as soon as we reached the approach to Mt. Doom (which is really called Mt. Ngauruhoe - no wonder it is now known as Mt. Doom, since the original name can't be pronounced at all!) rain was closing in. During our lunch break we decided not to go for the summit, since the weather conditions was poor and the view from the summit was blurred by clouds. Instead we headed down the crossing, to the Mangatepopo Hut where we had almost an hours coffee break before we walked the last half hour down to the carpark at the other end of the crossing where the other group had departed yesterday and left our two cars for us.

After a short drive back to Whakapapa we went to the Department of Conservation (DOC) visiting centre and had a look at their exhibit on the vucanic area that we had been crossing. After a quick tent-pitching and a shower we went to have pizza, burger, a steak and a beer or two at the local restaurant. It has been a fabulous trip, but it is also very nice to be back in camp again, ready to move on tomorrow. Next we will drive to Wellington tomorrow, visiting a beach on the way if the weather is pleasant, and the day after tomorrow we are heading to the South Island with on the infamous boat to Picton.