Today (Wednesday) I did what I would have to consider one of the most amazing things I've ever done. The day started very early with a 0600 pick-up from our accommodation where a few of us (Louise, Katie, Jenny and I) headed towards what is considered to be one of the best day hikes in New Zealand and many consider to be one of the top 10 day hikes in the world......The Tongariro Crossing. Depending on the path you take, the exact distance of the hike can vary but on this day it was a 19.4 kilometre (12 mile) hike.
There it is. Mount Tongariro and next to it you may recognize "Mount Doom" (from the Lord of the Rings) better known as Mount Ngauruhoe.
In the winter it was a very different hike than in the summer as at this time of year it is a guided hike and you require some specialized equipment. The cost is $155 NZ dollars and it includes your guide and all your equipment (if you need it.....that includes clothing). The only thing I borrowed from them was some cramp-ons (that's those spiky ice grips you attach to your shoes), an ice axe (turns out I don't have one of those) and a back-pack (I had brought my little day pack but I was thankful for their much bigger and better pack). I also took a pair of sunglasses.....but I never wore them.
A closer look at Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom). Of course it looks a little different than in the movie because it is covered with snow. It has been quite sometime since Ngauruhoe was an active volcano.
We had 3 guides with us, Sarah, Danny and Colin, and basically when we arrived at the site, they showed us the trail and told us to meet them up the hill in an hour. Of course that first hour was the easiest part of the hike and lead to the last toilet we would see for about 5 hours. From there we started to make our way up the mountain.
The first few steps of the trail.
Just a little glimpse of the amazing beauty we would be experiencing all day long.
Looking happy at the beginning of the hike and don't worry......that won't change. I was still not feeling great and could certainly feel the remaining traces of the sinus/chest infection I've been fighting off but I wouldn't have missed this hike for anything.
There it is again.....Mount Doom. Not very scary at all if you ask me.
Certainly winter. There was ice everywhere to remind us of that fact. But with ice always comes beauty. I really do like winter.
Once we really got into the hike we hit a location called the Devil's Stairs (not just a cleaver name). It is 297 steps....however those 297 steps are separated by whole lot of other up hill sections. I learnt after I had finished the hike that if you get vertigo you probably shouldn't use them. Lucky for me that didn't actually happen.
There actually are stairs....although most of them we couldn't see them with all the snow. In the winter we certainly didn't follow the exact trail laid out for hikers. We took the best and safest route possible. Many of the steps we did follow throughout the hike were actually carved and chopped out by Sarah, Danny and Colin the day before.
About part way up the Devil's Stairs we stopped to put on our "magic shoes" or cramp-ons. Without these I assure you we would have never made it up the hill. They absolutely dig into the snow and with the help of the ice axe (also necessary) I was able to get up the hill.......still at a very slow pace but that's the way Sarah liked it. Sarah I must add was an AMAZING guide. She was really good at keeping us motivated and never made us feel like we were moving at too slow a pace but at the same time kept us moving and got us to the summit in no time flat. Sarah is a Tongariro Guide full-time. I do believe her record is making the hike 9 days in a row.
At the top.....well actually this isn't even at the summit. We have a lot more uphill distance and some very difficult ice and snow covered trail left to cover. We stopped here for snacks and a breather. The scenery can take your breath away.
It really is as steep as it looks and those our just foot holes we are following. If we had attempted this hike one day earlier, we wouldn't have made it. The group that went had to turn back part way up because the trail of too icy and the weather was too poor. We had a magnificent day.
Another look at some amazing scenery. Of course during lots of the hike it simply wasn't safe to take pictures but I did take them every chance I had.
The hike went quite smoothly except for when the bar on my left cramp-on snapped. Lucky for me it was on a flat portion (one of the very, very few flat sections) and Danny carries spare parts with him. He had it fixed and had me back on the trail in no time.
I just couldn't get enough of it. I love how I'm standing above the clouds. I love even more the fact that I got above the clouds under my own power.
Kind of makes you feel like you're all alone.
This is close to the summit. I think it should give you an idea of the wind and snow/ice that you can get up here.
Having lunch at the summit. No snow here because these rocks are warm. It's a volcano.
From here Mount Doom looks kind of little.
We were trying to beat this cloud. We actually got to watch it roll over the mountain a few times. It went back and forth. We never really ran into it.
After a break at the summit we had to start making our way day. At one point we actually took off our cramp-ons, sat down on our butts and slid down the hill......just like when we were kids.
Louise and I (and a few others in the group) making our way down one of the hills. Certainly cramp-on territory here.
I kind of just wanted to sit here and enjoy the view for a while. Unfortunately Sarah wouldn't let us. There was some bad weather coming and we really needed to be down the mountain before it hit.
You can see those grey clouds. We really were trying to beat them down the mountain. You will be happy to know that we did. The sun disappeared for most of the trip down but there was no snow and no rain. It really was a perfect day.
Our last pit stop on the way down. There is actually a little hut here that you can sleep in. I'm sure in the summer sleeping on Tongariro would be inviting but not in the winter. It's pretty but it certainly isn't warm.
Louise and I celebrating almost being done. Still have to get down the rest of the hill but the hard part is over.
One of the last stretches of the trail before you get to the parking lot. So different from where we were a few hours ago.
In the end, the hike was outstanding. It took me 7 hours and 45 minutes (exactly) but that of course includes all the stops and everything.
In short, so amazing. Yes it hurt at times and it was a little cold but in the end.....I enjoyed every second of it. Once in a life time experience.
If you every make it to New Zealand, you must take this hike. http://www.tongarirocrossing.org.nz/
Check out the website. So amazing.
Julie
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