Tongariro Crossing

Tongariro National Park

Devil's Staircase

Emerald Lake

Red Crater and Mt. Doom

Looking down on Red Crater

1900 meters high

The Ocean

The End is Near!

On Friday, i hiked the Tongariro Crossing. A world re-knowned trek, 18.5 kilometers long, voted best 1-day trek in New Zealand. This hike takes about 7.5 hours, very difficult but, very exciting journey. Remember, Lord of the Rings? Part of this hike is the "devil's staircase" and "Mt. Doom." It's where Froto and Sam climbed to pitch the ring into Mt. Doom. My cause wasn't quite as noble, but just as daring. The funny thing is..... I had no idea what i was getting into. I had a day off, heard about this beautiful "walking trail", and thought, I'll do that. Luckily i found out that i would need to pack a lunch and needed to catch the bus at 6:30am. After 1 1/2 hour bus ride, i found out that this is one of the most difficult trails, meant for experience hikers. I get to the base of the mountain and about laughed my head off. i was too proud to turn around. I met some fun girls on the bus, as clueless as me, and they invited me to hike with them. The sites were beautiful. On top of the mountain, 1900 meters up, is the red crater with Emerald and Blue Lake on top. It is amazing...... These volcanoes formed lakes suspended forever on top of the mountain. All throughout the park are little geysers steaming from the ground. The land is so dynamic. It is quite rocky and hilly at first.......then come the craters and lakes.....then the beautiful trees/flowers and valley......then last at the end, the waterfalls and lagoon shaded trail. Just at the end, everyone sits to wait for the bus, talks and the bus driver takes names, to make sure everyone made it to the end..... freaky! I was sooo very sore for days. I worked muscles i didn't know i had, but i felt so proud. Most athletic i have ever felt! i was afraid my legs would fall off and the guest got another pretty big laugh at my expense. They all knew about my lack of information and planning going into this, so it was all very funny again how sore i was. I will definitely do it again before i come back.