Homes away from home

Here's some of the places I've been sleeping and frequenting over the past week. I'm really using my gear! Like for survival, or at least comfortable survival. By gear, I'm talking about all the stuff that I bought at REI while dreaming of adventure. I didn't really think that I would use this stuff to its full potential. Now, only a third into my trip, I've utilized every zipper and hood and waterproof feature, while silently thanking the geniuses (REI gods?) that designed this stuff!



Dad, thanks for the silk long underwear. And remember that green fleece that I bought right before I left, just because it was on sale at REI? The one that you tried to talk me out of cuz it's so bulky. Well, I've probably worn it EVERY day. It's also been my pillow on more nights than not over the past couple of weeks. It functions as a blanket at times, a cushion to sit on, and more.. Then there's my brown rain jacket. Six months ago I was at REI, trying on the "sky blue" and "eco-green" breathable rain jackets. Wondering if I really needed to spend so much on a rain jacket. The saleslady at REI convinced me that I should, and that if I really was going to be WWOOFing in New Zealand (She had actually heard of WWOOFing and been to New Zealand) that I should get the brown. Well, she was right. It's often covered in mud. And that brown rain jacket, that scrunches up to a tiny ball in my pack, has kept me safe from gusty rain while working, has kept me stylishly weather-proof in Wellington, and now has proven its might in snow. Thank you REI saleslady..



Enough talk about STUFF. You may be wondering, where have I BEEN and what have I been DOING? I'm not sure I can even remember! And it's late. And I'm over-tired... Today, I arrived by ferry to Picton on the South Island. I've crossed from top to bottom of the North Island twice in the last few weeks... And I plan to do it again in a couple weeks, after a quick jaunt in the North of the South Island (sorry, i know this is confusing without maps. I'll work on that another time)

So here's one story. Let's see, the last that I had a chunk of internet time to post a blog was in Wellington, correct? Wellington is at the bottom of the North Island. Well, after that, I went back about halfway up the North island to the National Park where I climbed a volcano and stayed in an alpine climbers hut.




The hut was amazing. But this photo does nothing to illustrate our initial approach. I have no photos of that day.. We carried up all our food and gear, scrambling over rocks in wet, cold clouds. Visibility was at a zero and our packs were covered in ice, frozen cloud vapor. It was a miserable climb, about one hour. But oh the hut, with its heaters that dried our clothes and packs, a hot water pot, and a toaster. It even welcomed me with a flower (ice, of course)...



The climb was worth it. Once in the hut, life was all tea and toast and lots of time to read while we waited for the storm to pass. There was no internet or phone service. Just cribbage, cooking and knitting. It was a lovely way to spend a few days...



We stayed in the hut for three nights, and climbed up to the summit when the weather cleared on the second day. The first thing I saw when the weather cleared, after being surrounded by nothing but solid, gray, was Mount Doom. It's actually called Ngauruhoe, but I know it as Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings.



We started our ascent, unsure of the outcome. Would the clouds close in again? Would we climb up for over two hours, only to find our view enveloped in the same solid gray that had been outside the hut windows for the whole day?



Well, we were rewarded. At the top, we found ourselves high above the clouds, high above the world, on the top of Ruapehu!



I collapsed and ate Lindt chili chocolate (chili=cayenne).. Never has chocolate tasted soooooo good. We peered at the crater, also covered in snow.



The next day, we said goodbye to our hut. The clouds were gone, so I actually got to see the terrain we were trekking through. We drove up North to Taupo, a touristy city, and had dinner at the Burgerfuel. The shock of being off the mountain was double, as not only were we back in civilization but we were no longer surrounded by snow and clouds... We ate by the lake, watching the sun set over our mountain (To the left of Mount Doom)



...and remembered the previous day's sunset...