Tongariro Crossing

November 10, 2009

There is a famous hike in N.Z. named the Tongariro Crossing. I had never heard of it before and definitely had no ambition to hike the 16 km/8hr crossing. Luckily, our group of four is split down the middle in regards to hiking. Jodie, having had done the West Coast Trail this past summer, and Danielle, who lugged her hiking shoes across the Pacific but neglected to bring her running shoes, are both keen hikers and were looking forward to this hike since we first touched down in N.Z. Then, on the other side of the spectrum are Britt and I. Britt, who's last hike other than Bear's Hump was in Jr High, and I, who was scarred from a previous 8 hr hike with guys who don't pause to breathe, were practicing our excuses for not going on the hike from the first moment we heard about it's existence.

Britt and I changed our minds every other day and on the night before, we made the self-less decision not to go to ensure we didn't slow down the boys and our hiker friends. Unfortunately, when we told the boys we weren't going, we weren't met with relief and congratulations on making the right choice like we had hoped; instead, the boys were completely adamant that we should come and that we would regret not going. They even went so far as to offer to carry all our stuff if that would help change our mind. Our last hope (that the hike was too grueling for novices) was dashed when the hostel worker told us that old people, overweight people, and children have all completed the crossing and lived. We had to do it.

Bright and early the next day, our group arrived at the start and, determined to not only keep up to the others but maybe even be in the lead, Britt and I set the pace and lead the way...... the wrong way... Luckily, someone alerted us that we were leading about 20 people the opposite direction before we were too far gone... We didn't lead the way after that, but 7 hours later we had hiked across volcanos, past Mount Doom, crossed emerald lakes, and emerged from the woods. I would like to say that we discovered the love for hiking but we didn't. Many times I was miserable, cold, exhausted and sometimes all three at once. But it was beautiful, we kept up, didn't complain and when we came off the mountain I did feel a sense of accomplishment and that was invigorating. I don't think Brittany and I will ever love hiking the way Jod and Dan do, but now we have proved to ourselves that we can hike 8 hour hikes and keep up with the pack.... We just might choose not to. Just like Brittany said once we were finished, "That was awesome, we did better than we thought, and it was beautiful... but never again." haha... This is one of those memories that you are so grateful for, and will always remember fondly, but in the heat of the moment, you would have given anything to be anywhere other than climbing straight up for a km in the freezing wind.

P.S. I feel like I have to give credit where due; to Mark for doing the 3 hr mountain summit hike in 1.5 hours; to Andrew for attempting the summit hike off the beaten path; to Jodie for flying down the last bit of the hike and arriving 40 min earlier than the rest of us (she's a machine); to Dan and Grant for hiking the crossing in the midst of sickness; and to Britt for hiking the crossing, not for the enjoyment but to prove to ourselves that we could hike if we choose to. If...

Cheers! V