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Peiying Mo | profile | all galleries >> Travel >> The Down Under 2008 >> North Island, New Zealand >> Tongariro Alpine Crossing tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Tongariro Alpine Crossing

The famous one day hike is on the northern side of the Tongariro National Park, New Zeland's oldest national park. The park is dominated by three majestic peaks, all active volcanoes: the symmetrical coned Ngaurohue, the truncated coned Rauapehu, and the flat-topped Tongariro. The trek meanders through the most attractive features of the park, including the mildly active craters, hots springs, and colorful lakes. Mt. Ngauruhoe has been continuously active in recent years with frequent venting steam and gas, and occasional ash and lava. There are bus services that drop off and pick up hikers at the beginning and end of the one way hike trail. Due to unpredictable mountain conditions, all hikers must report and sign off when they return safely, or the park service will launch a search and rescue mission.

I did the best one day trek in New Zealand on my birthday. I was greeted with 50+km/hr miserable wind, which one fellow trekker called 'hellish'. The trek is about 18.5km (almost 12 miles) in distance with 800m elevation gain. The terrain is quite varied, and the evidence of being in a volcanic zone is apparent for most of the walk. Only the last hour is there much vegetation. The path leads past the now famous Mt. Ngaurohue, which is known as Mt. Doom from the Lord of the Rings movies. While I did this difficult trek, Alan went river rafting on the Tongariro River. Alas, I have no pictures of him falling in the river.
Mt. Tongariro, which blew its top off long ago
Mt. Tongariro, which blew its top off long ago		 Mt. Ruapehu is covered with snow year round
Mt. Ruapehu is covered with snow year round		 Mt. Ngauruhoe, or Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings
Mt. Ngauruhoe, or Mt Doom in Lord of the Rings		 steps down to a creek
steps down to a creek		 Tawhai Falls
Tawhai Falls
Closer view of the Tawhai Falls
Closer view of the Tawhai Falls		 Tongariro Crossing elevation map with key landmarks
Tongariro Crossing elevation map with key landmarks		 Satelite image of key landmarks
Satelite image of key landmarks		 The start of the Tongariro Crossing
The start of the Tongariro Crossing		 The low hanging clouds signal bad weather
The low hanging clouds signal bad weather
Little waterfall along the Mangatepopo Stream
Little waterfall along the Mangatepopo Stream		 A group of hikers make up a very small element in this vast landscape
A group of hikers make up a very small element in this vast landscape		 Mangatepopo Stream is right along the path
Mangatepopo Stream is right along the path		 Rugged terrain
Rugged terrain		 Various vegetations
Various vegetations
The 71yr old guy volunteers for the Dept. of Conservation
The 71yr old guy volunteers for the Dept. of Conservation		 The last toilet stop before the long hike
The last toilet stop before the long hike		 Waterfall by the Soda Spring
Waterfall by the Soda Spring		 The beginning of the steep hike called devil's staircase.
The beginning of the steep hike called "devil's staircase".		 Looking up: 200m elevation gain for a 45 minute hike
Looking up: 200m elevation gain for a 45 minute hike
The visibility is low at times
The visibility is low at times		 When the sun peaks through, I can see people hiking on the trail
When the sun peaks through, I can see people hiking on the trail		 Panoramic view at the end of the Devil's Staircase
Panoramic view at the end of the "Devil's Staircase"		 The fast moving clouds form interesting shadows over the valley
The fast moving clouds form interesting shadows over the valley		 First major stop: at the base of Mt. Ngauruhoe
First major stop: at the base of Mt. Ngauruhoe
The streak from the mountain top is a sign that the volcano is very much alive and active
The streak from the mountain top is a sign that the volcano is very much alive and active		 The perfect coned mountain is only one of the vents of Tongariro range
The perfect coned mountain is only one of the vents of Tongariro range		 Evidence of eruptions from years ago
Evidence of eruptions from years ago		 The poles mark the path, extremely important on days with low visibility
The poles mark the path, extremely important on days with low visibility		 The South Crater
The South Crater
Panoramic view of the South Crater
Panoramic view of the South Crater		 More steep hike between boulders and uneven terrain
More steep hike between boulders and uneven terrain		 This is the spot to start the optional hike to the name sake peak, which is completely covered by the clouds
This is the spot to start the optional hike to the name sake peak, which is completely covered by the clouds		 The Red Crater
The Red Crater		 The wind is stiff, even the poles couldn't sustain it.
The wind is stiff, even the poles couldn't sustain it.
Another view of the Red Crater
Another view of the Red Crater		 View of the Red Crater and beyond
View of the Red Crater and beyond		 A rewarding view of the Emerald Lakes when coming down the hill
A rewarding view of the Emerald Lakes when coming down the hill		 The loose volcanic surface means you slide your shoes in the dirt and let the gravel carry you down
The loose volcanic surface means you slide your shoes in the dirt and let the gravel carry you down		 The wind is howling and the clouds glide the surface of the lakes
The wind is howling and the clouds glide the surface of the lakes
Occasionally the sun breaks though the clouds
Occasionally the sun breaks though the clouds		 The colors of the lakes come from the discharges from the volcanoes
The colors of the lakes come from the discharges from the volcanoes		 The stiff wind is almost unbearable but there is always time to pose for a photo
The stiff wind is almost unbearable but there is always time to pose for a photo		 I was standing at the top of the hill to take some of the lake photos
I was standing at the top of the hill to take some of the lake photos		 Can't find a better view for a lunch break
Can't find a better view for a lunch break
The three lakes carry a slightly different color from one another
The three lakes carry a slightly different color from one another		 The lake water is not drinkable due to high mineral content
The lake water is not drinkable due to high mineral content		 View of the east side of the park
View of the east side of the park		 As the day goes by, the weather worsens
As the day goes by, the weather worsens		 The Central Crater
The Central Crater
Walking at the edge of the Central Crater
Walking at the edge of the Central Crater		 On the right of the path is the Blue Lake, almost grayish under the cloudy sky
On the right of the path is the Blue Lake, almost grayish under the cloudy sky		 A view of Lake Rotoaira
A view of Lake Rotoaira		 The path is right along the hill side
The path is right along the hill side		 Ketetahi Hut is in sight, the only other restroom stop on this entire hike
Ketetahi Hut is in sight, the only other restroom stop on this entire hike
A few wild flowers thrive in this harsh climate
A few wild flowers thrive in this harsh climate		 A view of Lake Rotoaira under rain clouds
A view of Lake Rotoaira under rain clouds		 Sulphur smell is in the air, the privately owned hot springs are nearby
Sulphur smell is in the air, the privately owned hot springs are nearby		 The path zigzags along the hill side, taking me up and down
The path zigzags along the hill side, taking me up and down		 Looking down, a creek is running down hill.
Looking down, a creek is running down hill.
Looking up and back, the rain clouds are tailgating me
Looking up and back, the rain clouds are tailgating me		 All of a sudden, there is sign of life and the grasses are waist high
All of a sudden, there is sign of life and the grasses are waist high		 I am finally out of the clouds
I am finally out of the clouds		 Path consists of uneven size steps through the native forest - about an hour walk
Path consists of uneven size steps through the native forest - about an hour walk		 The last creek before reaching the car park
The last creek before reaching the car park

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