Easter at Ruapehu

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Easter at Ruapehu Karen Boswell "Spend Easter tramping around There we began the steep ascent up at Ruapehu? Well I dunno. the rocks and loose rubble. The We'll probably spend the whole further we climbed the more worried time in the hut gazing out the I became about returning this way. windows at the rain and mist!" Tired legs would possibly stumble We didn't, and it didn't! and fall on the loose rock with such long, body-shuddering steps We arrived in calm, fine weather downwards After a glance at on Good Friday and it stayed the map I wished fervently that like this for six days. we could push right through to Ketetahi Springs and take the Two of the groups stayed for familiar longer, gentler track down five days: Our group Bos, the other side. Geoff, Peggy, Debbie and Dave (down from Auckland doing their As we approached the saddle between own thing) and me; and the Rhodes Tongariro and Ngauruhoe, who Family John, Anne (formerly should come charging up behind us Walls) and children Colin age but the Rhodes Regiment, complete 15, Marion - 13, Heather - 6, with Janet in Dad's pack. Their and Janet 2. Barry Noyce and intention was to go right through sons Brent - 12, and Todd 11, to Ketetahi Springs, and John would arrived for three nights on Sunday, return to the car at Mangatepopo and twelve others were one or and come round to pick up his two nighters only. family. He very kindly solved our problem by offering to pick Being used to once-a-week Sunday up the four of us as well in tramps, I was a little worried his large station wagon. that I might not hack the pace of tramping day after day, so After a rest with about forty at Geoff's suggestion we began others at the saddle (EVERYONE our first day on an easy ramble was out on this glorious Easter), from the Chateau across the tussock we crossed the level South Crater track to the Tama Lakes. Upon of Tongariro and began the climb reaching the Lower Lake we decided up the crater wall to the point to opt out of the climb to the where we could see into the Red Upper Lake when we met many groups Crater. And there it was! Not coming down shivering with cold just the dried blood coloured from battling the icy wind on inner crater walls, but this the steep ridge to the Upper gigantic gash with its jutting Lake and saying "You're better solid walls that we found out off staying here". So we picked later is an 'evacuated dike' a sunny sheltering bank to sit a vent where lava had once flowed under (along with about twenty out. others) to eat lunch and have a quiet siesta. After feasting our eyes on this marvel of nature, we then climbed The next day my choice was Ketetahi the next rim alongside the Red Springs, having always gazed Crater with steam wafting up longingly up at it on numerous from somewhere below, to the occasions while speeding past high point, and there, spread to somewhere else. This was before us, was the second spinea pleasant, steady climb through tingling scene. With the North lush bush and onto open tussock Crater of Tongariro looming on gently leading to this gash in our left, the broad expanse of the side of Tongariro, with boiling the volcanic dust filled Central mud pools, steam vents and a Crater below, the sparkling trio hot bubbling stream cascading of tiny Emerald Lakes (more apple down into roughly made stepped green than emerald) below slightly pools, not much bigger than a to the right, and the lovely dining table and only about 30 cm Blue lake nestling in another deep. I had a pleasant soak crater in the distance, it was before our return down the hill. as if we had strayed into a science fiction film set, expecting little The third day was to be the most green men to pop up from somewhere. awe-inspiring tramp of my life. Geoff had now got us psyched up for the Red Crater. We left the I had no idea that a 'volcanic car at 9.30 am and followed the plateau' could be just that! well marked track across the Craters, craters everywhere. tussock to the base of Ngauruhoe. - The beautiful Emerald Lakes nestle inside 'explosion' craters. had arrived an HOUR before. Craters lie between the large mountain craters. Great black By the time we reached the turnlava flows spread like gigantic off at Mangatepopo it was dark, fingers across the flat Central but with a sunset-pink flow out- Crater, and down Ngauruhoe's lining the hills and with Egmont flanks. silhouetted against the skyline. Six of us got out and road walked From here we slithered down the another two kilometers until Bos steep dusty ridge to the Emerald and John caught us up with the Lakes where we had our lunch. cars. Nine hours after starting, I would have gone for a swim our tired bodies were still as I thought the water might functioning on the adrenalin be slightly warm with the escaping generated from the excitement steam nearby, but no! It was and wonder of this fantastic COLD! day. We crossed the edge of Central The following days we took quietly Crater, up to the rim of the at Silica Springs, Lake Rotopounamu, Blue Lake Crater, and along to a trip to Waitomo Caves, and the saddle between the lake and a tramp in the Kaimanawas, with Tongariro. There we met our three of the extra days spent "Mountain Man" John Rhodes on at Turangi as our base. his way back from Ketetahi Springs already. We wished him well for the strenuous journey back The Boswell's Bunch, the Rhodes to the car. Regiment, and the Nimble Noyces left the mountain contented and At Ketetahi Springs we joined happy at all we had achieved the rest of the Rhodes family with the blessing of glorious who were enjoying a leisurely weather. The Noyces had climbed hour or two, dunking the body Ruapehu one day and Ngauruhoe in the hot pools etc. while waiting the next, with Brent having notched for John to do the mountain circuit up the three peaks as he had already climbed with on foot and by car. We ambled Tongariro down to the car park at the end a school party less than two of the track and found that John weeks before.