January 3, 2009

Back at home at the Mount. And it feels great. It's warm and sunny and the beach is nice. :) The boys went surfing as soon as we got home.

Last night Ari brought to my attention that I hadn't mentioned anything really about what exactly our hike was like. I swear I did, but I either imagined it or erased it...but either way I'll tell you about it now.

AT 7:15 we caught the bus to the first carpark. It's a 19.5km hike one-way, so you have to arrange transport from the beginning and from the end. The beginning was rather flat and just neat terrain, low brush, small creeks, and little waterfalls. We climbed up slightly and when you turned around you could see all the way to the mountains on the west coast. You could see across the country! That's just nuts!

We then limbed up a ridiculous amount of stairs and ultimately climbed from about 1100meters to about 1500 meters. That part kicked my butt, but Ari and Mitch went flying up them. I don't know how they do it. Gentiana floated around somewhere between the three of us. 

The boys then decided to climb Mt. Ngaurahoe, Mt. Doom from Lord of the Rings. It's basically 1500meters to 2295 meters of scrambling up steep lava rock on an unmarked path. Gentiana and I had originally said "oh, yea, we'll go to!" at the very beginning of the hike, but once we got to the starting point we both went "heck no! we'll meet you at the top of the main peak of the trek." So, the boys took off up the side route and we continue up to the peak of Red Crater. It was intense and rocky and there were a couple points where I freaked out, but I made it and I was so proud of myself! It was so beautiful, but high and I couldn't wait to get down. It's that weird feeling when you love something, but need to keep going. 

So, we scrambled down the sand like terrain to the lakes below the crater and sat to wait for the boys. It was really nice to sit and relax and have good conversations. But the whole time we were worrying about the boys and what they were up to. Finally they arrived and looked exhausted, but said they'd had a good time. I was proud of them for doing it, not only were they scrambling up it, but they had to skree ski down it. I woulda fallen all over myself and never made it. 

So we made them sandwiches and allowed them some time to relax and then continued on our way. We still had about 3 hours of hike left. We climbed up a little more to the last big crater lake and when we came around that we could see all the way around to Lake Taupo. It was like a canvas painting it was so beautiful and perfect. Then we snaked down through low brush and a hot steam area. It smelled like sulfur, but the colors of the rocks were amazing. There was high brush that looked like grain plants. At one point we started running down the path with our hands in the brush like some cheesy moment in a film frolicking along, but I was lovin it. And of course, I started it. But then I burned myself out and that made the remainder way more rough than necessary. Oh, before that, Mitch and Gentiana had gone off ahead and we later found out that they ended up running the entire way back...I don't know how they did it...

Finally, mud covered and exhausted, Ari and I got to the carpark. Gentiana and Mitch had run ahead because at least one of us needed to catch the bus to get back to the hotel. Gentiana and Mitch were able to snag it at the last second and Ari and I napped on the grass while they went back and got the car to pick us up.

All in all we are exhausted, I have the worst cramps in my leg, but it was definitely worth it.

And Mitch has decided to go back and live at the lodge for a month. He's going to work there for room and board so that he can do more treks. 

The next big thing we're planning is Waitomo Caves. Black water rafting and abesailing into ravines...it'll be so awesome! :)

xoxo

Alissa