tongariro crossing

Back from the 20K Tongariro Alpine Crossing (above is Mt Ngauruhoe, or Mt Doom for you LOTR fans). Kiwi friend Cat and I drove up to National Park and met her sister Sunni and Sunni's boyfriend Matt, both from Auckland. (Tongariro NP is about mid-way between Auckland & Wellington.) Stayed at a backpackers for 2 nights and did the crossing on Saturday. Excellent weather for a hike -- cool and partly cloudy (surely falling under the common NZ weather term "fine"). But the top was WINDY AS! ("as what," you ask? well, that is the eternal question with this kiwi slang - tell me when you figure it out)

The famed lunar landscape delivered + great volcanic features: steaming vents, colorful lava flows, and pools smelling of sulphur. (Check out my Tongariro photo album for more shots.) The old knee injury survived the straight up/straight down trail, although she's usually not keen on more than 10 miles/day (this was 12), especially with extended downhill. Here's the gang at our first snack stop below the 2287m peak of Mt Ngauruhoe. Clearly the altitude is affecting us!

Sunni, Matt, Cat

We stopped by Whanganui Bay, north of the park, on Sunday and marveled at skipping pumice stones into the lake and watching them float. Nasty road down to this Maori marae -- usually off limits, but they allow climbers/campers and Cat had been several times before. Nice walk before spending the rest of the day in the car back to Wellington. Although we did make a quick stop at tree trunk gorge (below).

Home Sunday night to my empty house in Camborne -- Wendy (house owner) left for Europe Saturday. My french friend Alex was in Wellington this week taking an english exam before heading off to South America next week, so we hung out a couple days -- climbing Mt Victoria and spending an afternoon on the beaches near my place. We had to skip the tatoo museum because the weather has been too perfect and sunny to be inside -- all the locals say it's unusual for fall. 

Last night we capped off the day with Quiz Night at the local brew pub. Cat met us for a drink, but left after round 3 (quiz round 3, not drink round 3). Alex and I, however, persevered and managed to finish all 8 rounds -- in second to last place! (hey, it's tough when you're not a kiwi) Little did we know, 2nd to last carries a cash prize!!! Here we are with our $35 voucher, which of course enabled us to have another beer!