New Zealand

Super exciting day because it’s officially been a full Gap Year of Travel, and we are celebrating it in the best way possible: hiking the Tongariro Alipine Crossing, also known as Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings. This 12.9 mile hike with 2,800 elevation gain is in the top 10 best day treks in the world and over 100,000 people traverse it each year. It can take between 5 - 8 hours to complete and snakes through active volcanic landscapes; there was even a small eruption in 2012.

A shuttle from National Park picked us up at 7:15 am and dropped us off at the Mangatepopo Car Park along with hundreds of others. The first portion is like walking in a line as people are thinning out, bunching up, passing, taking off layers, and getting pictures. Our squad agreed to not use the first two bathroom stops so we could get out of the crowd.

Already the journey screamed rustic Mordor hospitality as the vegetation was sparse and the lava fields were endless. After 2 miles of flat, we start our incline with some stairsssss. The stairs definitely thinned the crowd out and enabled little pockets to form with new hiking buddies that would be on similar paces for the remainder of the trip.

Previously, people could hike up the Mt Ngauruhoe crater for Mount Doom, however, the local Māori view this mountain as sacred so the park took away the signs and stopped people from climbing. We crested over the South Crater and an expansive volcanic valley lay before us.

Now, since Mary worked throughout the year and would return to 20 hours a week starting Jan 13, her boss and team did need to discuss what everyone’s job would be upon return. They scheduled the call 4:30pm EST which was our 10:30 am; Mary ran ahead over the Red Crater to the Emerald Lakes for cell service and less wind so she could take a fucking work call on the hike (Kieran was pissed and 100% lectured). It was well worth the call because they did discuss her role and asked for her thoughts. So yeah, officially took a work call while munching on sandwiches/cider and active volcanic fumaroles steamed in the background on Mount Doom.

Squad crested one final crater to the Blue Lake, and started our descent down to Ketetahi Falls along several switch backs. We were trying to make the 2:45pm shuttle because the next one wouldn’t come until 4:30pm. Mary forced the team to keep pace and Kieran/Doyle trudged along obstinately; the last 2.5 miles were killer on the feet. In the end, we finished the hike at 2:10 pm and had 35 minutes to spare; total hike time with a 45 minute lunch break was 5h and 50 minutes! CRUSHED IT 🌋🌋🌋

We hit a convience store for biltong beef jerky and snacks before driving up 2.5 hours to Cambridge for steaks, beer, and whisky to celebrate.

Hotel: Cambridge Top 10 Holiday Park

Restaurant: Five Stags Leamington Tavern

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Tongariro Alpine Crossing
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