March 2020 - Tongariro

We did the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, which is described as being one of the best hikes in New Zealand. Mordor was filmed in the area and the hike passes right by Mt. Doom. It was beautiful volcanic scenery. This was our first significant hike after Kilimanjaro, and it felt like a total breeze after that!

Beginning our hike at dawn	The plateau is full of color in the early morning light	The sun rising on Mt. Ruapehu, the tallest mountain on the North Island
Beginning our hike at dawn	The plateau is full of color in the early morning light	The sun rising on Mt. Ruapehu, the tallest mountain on the North Island
	The shadow of Mt. Doom looms large ahead	Hiking by copper-toned bogs
	The shadow of Mt. Doom looms large ahead	Hiking by copper-toned bogs
There's a great boardwalk over the bog		As we climb higher up onto the volcano, we see stranger lava formations
There's a great boardwalk over the bog		As we climb higher up onto the volcano, we see stranger lava formations
Reaching Mordor!	Literally on the slopes of Mt. Doom.	Mt. Doom itself
Reaching Mordor!	Literally on the slopes of Mt. Doom.	Mt. Doom itself
	What a volcano!
	What a volcano!
The harsh volcanic landscape in all directions	The large plain surrounding Mt. Doom	Hiking along!
The harsh volcanic landscape in all directions	The large plain surrounding Mt. Doom	Hiking along!
The red crater, and the highest altitude point of the hike (about 6k feet)
The red crater, and the highest altitude point of the hike (about 6k feet)
A small lake near the top of the volcanoes, with the huge Lake Taupo in the backdrop		The emerald pools, and a whole bunch of vents!
A small lake near the top of the volcanoes, with the huge Lake Taupo in the backdrop		The emerald pools, and a whole bunch of vents!
	Down at the pools	Such green!
	Down at the pools	Such green!
The trail down from the red crater	The large plain on the other side of the red crater and emerald pools. You can see the trail cutting across, and a hardened lava flow to the right of them.	Mt. Doom and the red crater
The trail down from the red crater	The large plain on the other side of the red crater and emerald pools. You can see the trail cutting across, and a hardened lava flow to the right of them.	Mt. Doom and the red crater
	Lake Taupo as we descend the mountain	Winding our way down
	Lake Taupo as we descend the mountain	Winding our way down
The crater from an eruption 8 years prior. Still lots of steam coming up!	A silvereye in the forest on the way down	A North Island robin
The crater from an eruption 8 years prior. Still lots of steam coming up!	A silvereye in the forest on the way down	A North Island robin
Relaxing at a hot spring after the hike	A delicious meal to end the day
Relaxing at a hot spring after the hike	A delicious meal to end the day