So those names are mine and Dains alias' after our trip to the Tongariro National Park this week. We decided to conquer the great walk called the Tongariro Northern Circuit, none of this tourist day walk nonsense for us! So our 4 day adventure began after packing two bags of equipment, food, water and Dain's camping gear! (I opted for the more pleasant bunk bed option in the huts they have through the park!). First task of the day was getting up at 6am to get the bus to the start of the track, we were joined by all the day walkers who were just doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing with their little day packs and trainers, boooo!
We had to carry everything, to be fair though Dain had the bigger and much heavier bag, i was just carrying the four days worth of food which was heavy enough! we completed the frst part fine, then looked up to see the Devil's Staircase lying before us! A ridiculously long and arduous staircase combined with rock clambering on top of that, ouch. My knees were shot through by the time we got up it. it was so hot already and the sweat was pouring. We struggled to the top of the plateau and looked up at Mt Ngaurahoe (??) to the side of us, it was used in Lord of the Rings as Mt Doom, you could see why. I've never seen something so impressive and scary looking. You could climb it but it was dangerous and no chance we could make it up there with our packs on so we opted to climb to Mt Tongariro summit instead.
Again it was hard with so much weight on our backs, never sweated so much in my life!! The tracks were so slippy with loose gravel that one wrong foot and you could find yourself shooting down the side of the crater, argh! took much concentration but the views made it worth the pain. Came over the ridge to see Emerald Lakes and Blue Lake which were amazing against the backdrop of ashen volcanic territory. Stopped for a gourmet lunch of peanut butter sandwiches and peanuts, mmm yum. All powered up and ready to go we set off on the next leg of the journey which was to find the hut and get the bags off our backs!!
We followed the track through huge craters and came out on a mountain path, which went on forever and a day! Every corner we turned another appeared until suddenly the hut appeared in the distance. a sharp descent followed and we finally made it to the hut 8 hours after we began the crossing. Dain pretty much collapsed straight away, dont know how he managed to carry that bag so far, i couldnt even pick it up (hes got a hilarious video of me trying!). so while Dain (the protector and all round man!) rested i made us some dinner (hence kitchen wench who couldnt carry the bags!). The huts were full of kiwis on easter break but found a bed and Dain set up his tent behind the hut. Fell asleep about 9pm as once the light goes we couldnt see anythinG!! Oh and the fact we were exhausted helped...a lot! xxx
