Since I last wrote. Last weekend, several friends and I caught a bus 5 hours north, through farmland, country side, and desert to arrive in what we thought was the city of Turungi. When we got there we soon realized that it was not a city. Not even close- Turungi makes Warrensburg NY look like a booming metropolis. Anyway, we got of the bus and walked the kilometer or so to our campgrounds. Upon arrival we tried to book tickets the next day to do the Tongariro Alpine Crossing, renowned as one of the worlds best day hikes. Unfortunately the weather was supposed to be terrible the following day, but after some scrambling we finally booked a shuttle to the trail head with company our campgrounds receptionist said had perviously "drove to fast and then accidentally left people stranded" when it forgot to pick them up later that day. Nevertheless we managed transport to the from the crossing. After a dry but very windy night, we piled into the big busted old yellow bus that arrived at 7am. The driver did not drive to fast, nor did he forget to pick us up later that day, but it was still by far one of the most bootleg operations I have had the privilege of experiencing. The fair was $40, exact change and cash only- and I kid you not it went straight into the wallet of the old, overweight Maori driver.
Finally we get to the trail head, and start off. It was windy and chilly, but great tramping weather. As we climbed it got colder and windier. Unfortunately all views were cut off as we were totally socked in by clouds as soon as we gained any significant elevation. 70kph+ winds threatened to tip us off, and more than a few times we had to crouch down to wait for the stronger gusts to pass. The trail is very well traveled, almost three-quarters of a million people hike it each year, but in spots it was extremely trecherous, hiking along a loose and icy ridge, plummeting off into nothingness on either side. We passed by two of the regions three highest peaks, stunning but extinct volcanoes without even knowing, as everything was blocked by clouds. If anyone remembered Mt Doom from the Lord of the Rings, know that we passed within 2 miles of its summit without knowing until later. We had lunch by the Emerald Lakes, a pair of brightly colored volcanic lakes, and made it through the pass and down into the surrounding valleys by mid-afternoon. the last 2km of the hike were the most surprising- we had spent the last 6 hours and 2000 calories trekking through some of the most alpine terrain I have ever experienced, and within a matter of feet the landscape changed from low lying kiwi bush to lush dense rainforest. It was stunning and a welcomed changed in scenery. Our driver picked us up no problem, and we spent a nice evening at the campground grilling, playing cards, and drinking cheap wine from the bottle. The ride home was uneventful as well, and in wellington it finally poured on us as we stepped off the bus and made the 2km trek back up to our flats.
A weekend well spent.
We arrived home on Saturday in time for the farmers market on Sunday, and then on Monday classes started. All my lectures are easily over 80 people, in large lecture halls and I am really coming to appreciate the liberal arts philosophy. Not that mass education is a bad thing, and perhaps I am biased (ok I know I am) but i find it much more difficult to pay attention, and also much more dangerous as not everything we are tested on is included in our lecture. I find that bit rather annoying especially after walking into a bookstore to find the average "throw-away" paperback novels to be well over $20. Island living in some ways is not all its cracked up to be. Also, minimum wage in NZ is over $13 per hour so even with the exchange rate everything here is priced higher than it would be at home.
This weekend proved different, as I stayed in Wellington, but just as fun. Yesterday I got up for the sunrise over the harbor, spent a great morning slack-lining in the park just off the water, and then later on climbed Mt Victoria, not a "Mt" at all, but rather a mound overlooking Wellington with breathtaking, 360 degree views of the city, harbor, surrounding suburbs, and on a good day even the north tip of the south island. It was a true summer day, and after my dinner at an actual restaurant we struggled on the hill with full stomachs.
Next weekend the Arcadia group is heading off to Able Tasmen National Park- apparently one of the most beautiful places in NZ, across Cook Strait on the south island so stay tuned!
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