t229

Mt Ruapehu Te Heuheu Peak -- Crater Lake loop

Quote from our leader Eric of Tongariro National Park Tramping 2016: 「老兵隊這次Tongariro National Park健行的最高潮，走這條很少人敢走的步道。我們一共有14位隊友參與活動。有些甚至回奧克蘭辦完事再趕來參加活動，Eric非常感動。感謝主幫忙我們完成這壯舉。」

在這11天的健行 這是一次最精彩的健行 非常不同的體驗 看到廣闊冰原 雄偉壯麗景觀 以及超好視野 必需天時地利人和 否則無法順利完成 天時:風和日麗 正好高氣壓籠罩 地利:沒有冰只有雪 利於行走 雖仍艱難 但已把難度減到最低 人和:.有GPS資訊和有經驗的guide. Thanks  Eric for the guidence.

(photo from Jane and Eric)
waiting for chairlift

rough country

an ascent of 900 metres from the chairlift to the Knoll Ridge Cafe (the highest cafe in NZ) where starting our walking

Pinnacle Ridge

walking up

(photo from Jane and Eric)
putting on crampon as becomes more steep

walking higher

looking down Pinnacle Ridge

some good views

steep further

walking along rocks

Te Heuheu Peak, our destination, in the distance

other trampers walking up

Te Heuheu Peak (2732m) - the height accessable point in Mt Ruapehu. 

The Tahurangi (2797m) is the highest one (not accessable) and Te Heuheu Peak ranks second height.

super views - Mt Ngauruhoe and Tama Lakes

(photo from Jane and Eric)
group photo

traverse ridge 

super scenes all the way...

Mt Taranaki in the distance

walking ridge rim

traverse Summit Plateau

sliding down!!

encounter several sliding downs

Crater Lake
Crater Lake with Tahurangi (2797masl) in background

quite huge lake

distinctive rock formation on the lake side

(photo from Jane and Eric)
group photo

(photo from Jane and Eric)
walking up to the Dome Shelter

Dome Shelter (2672m)

then walking all the way back to the Knoll Ridge Cafe and taking chairlift to the car park

(photo from Jane and Eric)

having dinner together to celebrate today's walking!