I know we have been quiet for 5 days, but that is a good thing - trust me!
Discovery Lodge does not have wifi and I was a bit worried Mr. Mann would not survive, but he did. Or rather, he offered to go into the village every day to get coffee and I soon realized why lol….
We were in Whakapapa back in 2008 for the sole purpose of doing the famous Tongariror Crossing, but weather prevented us from doing it then, so we were very determined this time around. I booked us at the Lodge for 5 days just to make sure and as luck would have it - we were successful on our last day! Every morning the shuttle to the start - as it is a one way 21km hike - was cancelled due to weather conditions.
We were told on Saturday it this too rainy and windy. Sunday we were told it was windy, raining and snowing (in summer in NZ - WTF), and Monday we even got up at 4:15am to get the first shuttle and once we were all on this bus the driver told us the ride was cancelled due to 125km winds. It was simply not safe for one part where you cross a VERY narrow ridge between two volcanoes and not be blown off.
To say we were disheartened was an understatement. Callum put us on the schedule for the Tuesday (our final day there) and we were hopeful but had a plan B just in case and chalked it up to fate if we could not go.
Tuesday morning the alarm did not even have to wake us for the 5:20am shuttle as we were up and wired at 4:45am and we got the green light - yeah! The winds were 65-75km an hour and within the top range, there was no rain being called for and no snow, but visibility was near zero - as you can see from some of our pictures - but that was ‘scheduled to lift’ at 8am (like one can control the weather, but was what we were told) …
So, we took off for the start, were pumped and excited, though a bit bleary eyed and tired … with 19 others on our shuttle, who seemed woefully underdressed.
We started the hike at 6am and to save you all the gory details we finished at 12:30pm.
I will go on record to say it was likely the hardest hike I personally every done and we have been to some crazy hiking spots as many of you may recall. The elevation gain was nearly 1000 meters up into a crater, across a ridge that joins to another crater, and back down. The narrow passage is where the wind is the issue and all I will say is that at one point Ted turned around to see where I was (fog and low visibility) and all he saw was a woman clinging to the marker pole to fear of being blown off.
I literally almost lost my poles as they blew out of my hands, so I used them as a brace, crouched down, and walked like a duck (nearly) to get across - as it was the windiest I have have ever experienced on a hike - it was insane … I was so thrilled to be across and thought - wow, that is it - I’ve done it! Nope - that story for another time, climbing (in the wind) up the other side, on a surface that was basically mud, as it was raining/snowing the previous 3 days … OMG!
We made it and celebrated with champagne … we just had too and deserved it …
There were other treks we did while in Whakapapa; Tawhai Falls, Tama Lakes, Silican Rapids, and the Taranaki Falls Hike.
The scenery, as you can see, was exceptional. You are seeing views of both Mt Ngauruhoe (known as Mt Doom to LOTR fans) and Mt. Ruapehu (the wider of the two). You can also see one day they are not snow covered and the next they are - yes, it did get cold while we were there - but fortunately our room had electric blankets, which trust me - we used every single night …
It was a special and wonderful time in Whakapapa and we will remember it for quite some time and are thrilled we were able to do the Crossing - for the hiking afficiandoes reading this …
Off to Napier, NZ - the Art Deco capital of the world and Hawks Bay for some wine sampling. Yes - we are already booke for one on Saturday …
Cheers
Robert and Ted
