TONGARIRO NATIONAL PARK - 16-18 September 2005

The walk up the hill to Ketetahi Hut was started in drizzly mist which turned to driving horizontal freezing snow as soon as we emerged above the bush line. A reminder that winter was not done yet. After the sulphurous stench of the Ketetahi Stream (which was running charcoal black) it was a short but greasy walk to the hut. A handmade crutch cunningly constructed out of DOC marker poles leant up against the hut wall. Some poor sod doing the Crossing probably made use of it once. The gas fire was quickly put to good use. Snow built up against the toilet doors to just below kneecap level - luckily the doors opened inwards. Saturday saw the marginal conditions continue so we killed time by watching the poi dances on the hut veranda, then constructed an elevated throne from the various tables and benches in the hut, strategically located directly above the hottest part of the gas fire.

approaching the blue lake

"Hurry Up...  I'm turning blue!!!??"		 "Steve G. at Emerald Lakes"

It proved a popular place to sit. We set off up the hill into the snow and needed sunglasses after 3 minutes although there was no sun and we could not see more than two snow poles distance. After navigating through the deep drifts of slushy snow at the throat of the Ketetahi Valley where we met some Wellington T+M Club members headed for Ketetahi, we emerged onto the ridge above Blue Lake. Here the gusting wind made progress hard. Blue Lake was covered in white stuff that looked like it would not support a persons weight. Continuing seemed easier than returning so we dropped down out of the wind to Central Crater, pausing at the Emerald Lakes. The upper half of Red Crater was hidden in the mist, as was Ngauruhoe. The descent from Emerald Lakes into the head of the Oturere Valley involved dropping steeply down a narrow spine of mixed rock and snow. From here we could look back and see the steaming cliffs of Red Crater.

With weather gradually improving we emerged out of the lunar landscape to the Oturere Hut, where the snow petered out. We had the hut to ourselves Saturday, and did not see the four legged occupants (mice) that the hut sign warned us about. Sunday we headed off south into rain. We reached familiar ground after about an hour then continued across to Waihohonu Hut then out past Te Mako Bush to the Desert Road. What no white van! The doubters were made to eat their words when the vehicles arrived 30 seconds later. Nice timing guys!

Thanks to all participants - the A Team (Claire, Stephen_G, Steve_A, and Nigel (reporter), and especially to Noel, Carl, Eileen, and Colin who made the trip possible by their good deeds (again) of ferrying the vehicles.

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