Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Overview

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing in Tongariro National Park is one of New Zealand's most spectacular tramping tracks, and the most famousFact|date=April 2008 one-day tramp in New Zealand.

The crossing passes (roughly speaking) over the volcanic terrain of the multi-cratered active volcano Mt Tongariro, passing near to the immediately neighbouring Mt Ngauruhoe which can optionally be climbed as a side trip.

The walk is renowned for its barren yet beautiful volcanic landscape, unusual geological features, visible volcanic activity and views of the surrounding countryside below.

Walk details

The crossing takes about seven hours of steady walking, and although it is certainly not extreme, it does require a basic level of fitness. The track beings with a steep 45 minute ascent – the most difficult part of the track – soon after the start. Further, smaller descents and ascents into and back out of two different craters on the mountain add to the total amount of climbing involved. The last 2 hours of the walk involve a prolonged descent down the northern flank of the volcano.

The walk starts to the west of the mountain and the track forms a reverse L shape when looked at on a map, heading east for the first third and then turning north. As the walk starts and ends on different sides of the mountain trampers are unable to drive themselves to and from the walk. (Returning to the starting point would mean retracing the entire route - a further 7-8 hours of walking). A number of bus and coach companies offer transport services catering to the walk. These companies collect trampers from hotels and hostels in the surrounding towns and drop them at the starting point in the early morning. The same vehicles then meet the walkers in the late afternoon at the finishing point to transport them back to their accommodation. Both the starting and finishing locations are a 30 minute drive from the nearest towns so vehicle transport is required.

Water Supplies

There are no guaranteed fresh water supplies on the walk. Trampers are required to bring sufficient fresh water for their own drinking needs. Tank drinking water is usually available at the Ketetahi hut on the final downwards stretch of the walk but this cannot be always guaranteed. There are various pool and springs in the area but the water is often hot and tainted with minerals and dissolved metals from the volcanic activity. Most natural water in the area is not drinkable.

Mount Ngauruhoe side trip

Mt Ngauruhoe can be climbed as a side trip from the main crossing however this is not recommended for any but the fittest and most experienced of climbers. The regular crossing takes 7-8 hours of steady walking. Climbing Mt Ngauruhoe adds three to four hours on to this time for an average walker, making the entire trip, from start to finish, with side trip, an 11-12 hour tramp. The problem for walkers is that the various services that provide transport to and from the walk usually drop trampers at the start of the walk at around 8am and pick them up again between 4pm and 5pm - an eight to nine hour time frame. By climbing Mt Ngauruhoe and extending the walk time to 11 to 12 hours walkers run the risk of missing their transport at the end of the walk and having to spend the night exposed on the flanks of the mountain.

Further, the flanks of Mt Ngauruhoe are mostly loose scree which is very difficult to walk on and requires a considerable energy expenditure compared to walking on solid material. Physical exhaustion is a further hazard of climbing this mountain for all but the most fit.

Alpine Exposure and 2007 Name Change

Until 2007 the crossing was called "The Tongariro Crossing", but this was changed to "The Tongariro Alpine Crossing" to better reflect the terrain. Almost the entire length of the crossing is in volcanic terrain with no vegetation and fully exposed to weather - at considerable altitude. As the crossing is both famous and easily accessible it is walked by large numbers of tourists and casual walkers each year. The Department of Conservation is concerned about trampers being unprepared for the conditions they may encounter and introduced the name change to warn the many poorly equipped visitors of potential hazards. As of 2006, two people of an estimated 65,000 users had died on the track. [cite news
last =
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title = Crossing's new name will give trampers more clues about terrain
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publisher = New Zealand Herald
date = 2007-10-29
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accessdate = 2007-10-29 ]

Geological/Volcanic Features

The entire length of the walk (except for the final descent through native forest) is through raw volcanic terrain. The three volcanoes in the area are all highly active and the terrain reflects this. Solidified lava flows, loose scree, scoria, and solidifed volcanic lava bombs abound. Large amounts of minerals are brought to the surface and are highly visible in the colours of rocks and ridges. Active steam vents abound on several sections of the walk, constantly emitting steam and sulfur dioxide gas into the air and depositing yellow sulfur specks around their edges. The famous lakes and pools on the walk are deeply coloured by the volcanic minerals dissolved in them. Some areas feature large springs emitting near-boiling water and torrents of steam. The terrain underfoot for most of the walk is either sharp edged new volcanic rock or loose and shifting scree. In some crater areas it is finer sediment that has become moist and compacted.

See also

* New Zealand tramping tracks
* Tongariro Northern Circuit

References

External links

* [http://www.doc.govt.nz/templates/trackandwalk.aspx?id=36028 Department of Conservation] - Tongariro Alpine Crossing information
* [http://www.nzadventure.com/tongariro_trek.html Tongariro Alpine Crossing, gear to be taken and local accommodation]
* [http://www.tongariocrossing.org.nz Tongariro Alpine Crossing and transport information]