Wow What a day! I spent the day doing the Tongariro crossing. We had to be up by 5 ish, as the pick up was at 5.40. We arrived at the southern end of the crossing by about 7.30 ish, at that point I was thinking - Oh my god! what have I let myself in for? It looked like Dartmoor on a bad day - certainly not a trek that I'm fancying doing. 
Monica my walking partner for the day standing in front of Peter Jackson's Mt Doom whilst it's hidden by the clouds!
Monica my walking partner for the day standing in front of Peter Jackson's Mt Doom whilst it's hidden by the clouds!As we started of on a nice gentle walk on a well worn stone/gravel path I was wondering what all the fuss was about. After about 90 minutes I realised what some of the fuss was about... The Devils staircase! 
You can make out people climbing up the staircase from the right of the picture, but it doesn't really show how Darned Steep the thing was!
I was the last one from the Kiwi Experience group to make it to the top! I definitely need to work on my fitness levels. Either that or I need to learn to like climbing! for those of you who are afraid on heights (like me) I would not recommend this section of the crossing!
My Kiwi experience group having survived the Devil's staircase!
My Kiwi experience group having survived the Devil's staircase!From there we headed across the South crater, with Mt Doom (aka Ngauruhoe) on our right. 
The clouds that you can see low to the ground are actually rising from the crater floor.
From there we tackled the next part that I didn't like. The surface had lots of loose rock, so you had to be very careful about checking your footing with each step, for fear that you'd go tumbling down the hill side!
I took many stops on the way up when I knew my footing was secure, because at those times, I didn't have to worry about where I was going to put my feet next!
The view from the top into the red crater was worth all the trials to get up there though.
I felt slightly pleased with myself for having got there!
Mt Doom! - I'm sure Sar could give us a geological explanation for why the rocks were so red up there!
Then we started going down hill! Yeah! I'm much better at down hill then uphill, however, the surface going down had even more loose rock then the one going up!
Emerald Lakes, on the left you can see people sliding down the pathway as it zig-zags down the side of the mountain
By the time I got to the bottom... the amount of stone in my shoes was just silly!
And that's just one shoe people!
From there we got to work on about 4 hours of down hill! Who ever realised what hard work walking down hill is! Again the views were incredible. they better have been after what I put myself through to get there!
We're heading towards the left middle distance... I think!
I've been conning you all - I'm just up the road on Dartmoor!
Some Honest to goodness real New Zealand bush!
With that I'm going to bed, to recover from getting up at 5am!
All my love Sueby
4 comments:
Wow that trek looked like fun, wish I could have done that with you. Bit longer than the 25 mile Dartmoor walk!! then at least that one was over 2 days and I seem to remember you bringing up the rear then you need to work on your walking muscles mate. The rafting looked like fun could just about pick you out.
Catch up with an email later
Continue having fun you lucky girl
Diane
xxx
You've turned into a hobbit! i'm so jealous. keep taking lots of photos, and stay safe.
Sueby:
Those pictures are amazing. How I envy you this adventure. Sammie and I looked you up on the world map to get an idea exactly where you were. Keep the pics coming. We love them.
Love, Judi
Hiya mate - just to tell ya we've set the date ! 22 November at Glazebrook House Hotel, just up the A38 ! Sooo excited ! Wish you could be there Stephxx
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