Unofficial Log - (The Truth)

DAY ONE (April 2)

Depart Cambridge at a most ungodly hour.

Arrive at our destination – Mangatepopo Road end. Repack everything three times. Loose some of the weight..i.e. Eat it. plus Breakfast.

A gentle stroll along the track beside the Mangatepopo stream, short stop at the Mangatepopo Hut to empty out rocks and top up the water bottles. Then press on to the Soda Springs.

From here an agonizingly Long Steep climb up into the South Crater – arriving at our destination at 12.45am for lunch and well earned fag.

After lunch Dunno, I'm Hungry, Oi, Wally and Rambo with Thomas the Tank Engine Head off for the top of Tongariro.

Supergran and myself partake of several well earned cups of coffee and discuss the finer points of life.

What a magnificently eerie place to make camp. We were well sheltered and enjoyed magnificent views of the stark almost surrealistic landscape. Its quite a sensation to be camped in an old crater between two active volcanoes.

So much for the likely Lads and their race to be first. The adults won by a comfortable margin. Our Tents were pitched, we were all unpacked and had dinner cooking whilst the likely lads were still working out which way up to put a tent.

DAY TWO (April 3)

Dishes. Yuck. Well I'd set myself up for that one.
Water. Isn't it amazing how drinkable water becomes a prize when there's no taps handy and you've had to carry it all the way.

Supergran and myself had both decided that we were going to summit Mount Ruapehu. So we reluctantly volunteered to remain at Base Camp, drink coffees. tidy up and look after the gear whilst the rest of the party climbed Ngauruhoe.

My ankle was rather wobbly and would not have coped with the climb of Ngauruhoe. I opted to sit out the climb because of the weather and this fitness problem.

The afternoons tramp out was another leisurely affair for most of us. Well those that weren't trying to prove how tough they were. The weather had cleared and it was a beautiful warm afternoon for the trip back to the cars.

Wally and Rambo did move out quite quickly, They were able to hitch a ride back to the Chateau where the cars were parked saving the rest of us an additional three hour hike.

Set up camp in an old roadside work area above the Toakakura Falls
The likely lads coming a comfortable second in the tent pitching war.
A great feed. Impossible army stories, An inspiring full moon rising directly over Ngauruhoe. Impromptu astrological and navigation lessons.
The Likely lads however exceeded even their expectations and in a moving poignant moment of male bonding won the farting competition convincingly.

DAY THREE (April 4)

A leisurely breakfast followed by an entertaining show by the likely lads trying to get themselves sorted for the day.

Everybody with the exception I'm hungry made the first 1000m climb of Ruapehu in 20 minutes. Thanks too Ruapehu Alpine Lifts and a couple of family tickets.

Then the real climb began. Its funny how 20 years ago the stroll to top of Ruapehu didn't hurt at all. Realistically I'm thankful that this summer saw all the ice gone and we had a relatively easy walk up restful Ridge.

So along with the other 200 or so tourists, families and egotists we eventually arrived at the "top". Dome shelter. A Light Lunch in the sun before returning to the cars.

Likely Lads again a very distant second in the tent pitching race.

Ahhh Hot Pools. If you get the chance do try the Tokaanu Oasis Camp ground and their beautiful hot pools for the night. Its nice to be able to have a hot shower but a soak in 40º C hot pools after a trip like this is unbeatable.