Brandonio17's Photobucket Ngauruhoe and Tongariro album media

Lake Taupo, view from the porch of the bach we stayed at for this trip

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:43:16 MDT

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Lake Taupo, view from the porch of the bach we stayed at for this trip - IMG_1330.jpg

Closer-up view of the lake and boat

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:37:28 MDT

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Closer-up view of the lake and boat - IMG_1328.jpg

Picture of the parking lot (I\'m such a tourist)

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:30:59 MDT

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Picture of the parking lot (I\'m such a tourist) - IMG_1334.jpg

Looking north from the trailhead

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:22:25 MDT

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Looking north from the trailhead - IMG_1336.jpg

My first Great Walk - almost a year after getting here!

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 04:12:22 MDT

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My first Great Walk - almost a year after getting here! - IMG_1339.jpg

First sighting of Ngauruhoe, AKA \"Mount Doom\" from Lord Of The Rings

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:52:55 MDT

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First sighting of Ngauruhoe, AKA \"Mount Doom\" from Lord Of The Rings - IMG_1349.jpg

Puts me in mind of the American Southwest

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:45:20 MDT

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Puts me in mind of the American Southwest - IMG_1352.jpg

Approaching the Devil\'s Staircase

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:35:39 MDT

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Approaching the Devil\'s Staircase - IMG_1355.jpg

By far the easiest portion of today\'s tramp!

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:18:36 MDT

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By far the easiest portion of today\'s tramp! - IMG_1360.jpg

Surprisingly, the smell of sulphur wasn\'t too prevalent...

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 03:07:54 MDT

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Surprisingly, the smell of sulphur wasn\'t too prevalent... - IMG_1375.jpg

Ngauruhoe\'s base with tussock grass, distant view of Taranaki

Brandonio17 — Tue, 22 May 2007 02:55:37 MDT

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Ngauruhoe\'s base with tussock grass, distant view of Taranaki - IMG_1379.jpg

Now I know how Frodo and Sam felt looking up the side of Mount Doom...

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:40:59 MDT

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Now I know how Frodo and Sam felt looking up the side of Mount Doom... - ngaurahoetongariro065.jpg

Iain and Glenn taking a break midway up Ngauruhoe

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:38:14 MDT

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Iain and Glenn taking a break midway up Ngauruhoe - ngaurahoetongariro066.jpg

Midway up Ngauruhoe\'s slope

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:36:37 MDT

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Midway up Ngauruhoe\'s slope - ngaurahoetongariro069.jpg

Close-up view (relatively) of Emerald Lake

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:21:57 MDT

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Close-up view (relatively) of Emerald Lake - ngaurahoetongariro075.jpg

Smoking vent on ridge just opposite crater

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:20:59 MDT

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Smoking vent on ridge just opposite crater - ngaurahoetongariro079.jpg

Way down in that canyon is where we first began

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:19:32 MDT

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Way down in that canyon is where we first began - ngaurahoetongariro083.jpg

One of many views that made the whole trek worth it!

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:15:31 MDT

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One of many views that made the whole trek worth it! - ngaurahoetongariro084.jpg

Just inside rim of Ngauruhoe\'s crater - see the icicles!

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:14:26 MDT

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Just inside rim of Ngauruhoe\'s crater - see the icicles! - ngaurahoetongariro085.jpg

Closer view of the icicles

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:12:17 MDT

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Closer view of the icicles - ngaurahoetongariro086.jpg

Ngauruhoe\'s crater just behind me, Ruapehu beyond that

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:08:35 MDT

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Ngauruhoe\'s crater just behind me, Ruapehu beyond that - ngaurahoetongariro091.jpg

Taranaki just over my left shoulder

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:06:53 MDT

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Taranaki just over my left shoulder - ngaurahoetongariro092.jpg

Southeast rim of Ngauruhoe\'s crater - Grandaddy of Red Rocks

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:05:18 MDT

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Southeast rim of Ngauruhoe\'s crater - Grandaddy of Red Rocks - ngaurahoetongariro093.jpg

Looking north, Emerald Lake awaits!

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:01:36 MDT

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Looking north, Emerald Lake awaits! - ngaurahoetongariro095.jpg

From left: Iain, Simon, Sarah, Me, Ursula, Chris (taking picture is Glenn)

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 22:00:03 MDT

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From left: Iain, Simon, Sarah, Me, Ursula, Chris (taking picture is Glenn) - ngaurahoetongariro098.jpg

Looking down into Ngauruhoe\'s crater

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 21:58:14 MDT

Brandonio17 posted a photo

Looking down into Ngauruhoe\'s crater - ngaurahoetongariro099.jpg

Better view of Taranaki\'s peak looking northwest from top of Ngauruhoe

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:37:37 MDT

Brandonio17 posted a photo

Better view of Taranaki\'s peak looking northwest from top of Ngauruhoe - ngaurahoetongariro100.jpg

Looking due north from top of Ngauruhoe

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:36:32 MDT

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Looking due north from top of Ngauruhoe - ngaurahoetongariro101.jpg

Looking over northwestern aspect of Ngauruhoe\'s crater, Taranaki way off on horizon in distance

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:35:11 MDT

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Looking over northwestern aspect of Ngauruhoe\'s crater, Taranaki way off on horizon in distance - ngaurahoetongariro102.jpg

Rim of Ngauruhoe\'s crater, Ruapehu off to the left

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:33:34 MDT

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Rim of Ngauruhoe\'s crater, Ruapehu off to the left - ngaurahoetongariro103.jpg

Tongariro Crossing; we\'ll follow it up and off to the left

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:31:53 MDT

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Tongariro Crossing; we\'ll follow it up and off to the left - ngaurahoetongariro105.jpg

Inside deep crater between the mountains, Tongariro Crossing behind Sarah up to left

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:30:38 MDT

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Inside deep crater between the mountains, Tongariro Crossing behind Sarah up to left - ngaurahoetongariro107.jpg

Looking southeast, Tongariro coming up on left, Ngauruhoe back on right

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:28:23 MDT

Brandonio17 posted a photo

Looking southeast, Tongariro coming up on left, Ngauruhoe back on right - ngaurahoetongariro111.jpg

Ridge from Ngauruhoe to Tongariro

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:27:04 MDT

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Ridge from Ngauruhoe to Tongariro - ngaurahoetongariro112.jpg

Another view of Ngauruhoe, we came up from the right

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:25:06 MDT

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Another view of Ngauruhoe, we came up from the right - ngaurahoetongariro115.jpg

Looking back on Ngauruhoe after having climbed it, the big bastard

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:16:10 MDT

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Looking back on Ngauruhoe after having climbed it, the big bastard - ngaurahoetongariro116.jpg

Mars on Earth! Looking south at Tongariro\'s crater

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:12:02 MDT

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Mars on Earth! Looking south at Tongariro\'s crater - ngaurahoetongariro117.jpg

Looking east along large crater of Tongariro

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:10:54 MDT

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Looking east along large crater of Tongariro - ngaurahoetongariro119.jpg

Further in Tongariro\'s main crater - check out the huge crack in the rock!

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:06:23 MDT

Brandonio17 posted a photo

Further in Tongariro\'s main crater - check out the huge crack in the rock! - ngaurahoetongariro120.jpg

More pools coming into view

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:04:56 MDT

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More pools coming into view - ngaurahoetongariro122.jpg

Climbing down other side of Tongariro Crossing, to the hot pools

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 19:03:46 MDT

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Climbing down other side of Tongariro Crossing, to the hot pools - ngaurahoetongariro125.jpg

Steaming rocks inside one of Tongariro\'s craters

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:57:28 MDT

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Steaming rocks inside one of Tongariro\'s craters - ngaurahoetongariro126.jpg

Clouds move in across Emerald Lake...

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:55:38 MDT

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Clouds move in across Emerald Lake... - ngaurahoetongariro130.jpg

Steaming vent on left, nice rays of sunlight

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:54:24 MDT

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Steaming vent on left, nice rays of sunlight - ngaurahoetongariro133.jpg

Looking southwest, the hut in bottom center, the halfway point on way out from Tongariro Crossing

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:46:46 MDT

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Looking southwest, the hut in bottom center, the halfway point on way out from Tongariro Crossing - ngaurahoetongariro134.jpg

Bona-fide tramping hut!

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:45:31 MDT

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Bona-fide tramping hut! - ngaurahoetongariro136.jpg

Looking south across Taupo, our bach is far off on the distant lake rim

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:44:30 MDT

Brandonio17 posted a photo

Looking south across Taupo, our bach is far off on the distant lake rim - ngaurahoetongariro137.jpg

Looking back west, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro now shrouded in clouds

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:32:23 MDT

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Looking back west, Ngauruhoe and Tongariro now shrouded in clouds - ngaurahoetongariro138.jpg

Steaming vent, this is truly volcanic land.

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:31:00 MDT

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Steaming vent, this is truly volcanic land. - ngaurahoetongariro139.jpg

Carpark at last! Looking back on the trail, can just see the posts marking this end

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:29:03 MDT

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Carpark at last! Looking back on the trail, can just see the posts marking this end - ngaurahoetongariro140.jpg

Panorama atop Ngauruhoe

Brandonio17 — Sun, 20 May 2007 18:18:02 MDT

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Panorama atop Ngauruhoe - ngaurahoetongariro143.flv