Tag 5 - 'One does not simply walk into Mordor...'

For decades, people have believed this wisdom of a deceased legend without ever questioning it. But today the history books have to be rewritten. It's true, 'One does not simply walk into Mordor... but we did!' (even though it was anything but easy...).

But let's start from the beginning. It's 5:50 a.m., two slightly sleep-deprived tourists are waiting for the shuttle that will take them to the start of the Tongariro Alpine Crossing. Now some attentive readers may ask, 'Why shuttle? In the first blog post, there was a red little rental car. Did those idiots crash it?' No, of course not, there are other reasons for the shuttle:

1. The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is not a loop track, so if you arrive by your own car, you would have to walk back again.

2. In order to minimize the number of car break-ins in the parking lots there, the maximum parking duration has been reduced to 4 hours. But since the mentioned track (mind you, one way only) takes about 6-8 hours, it's a bit tight.

So the shuttle picked us up and safely took us to the start of the track. We couldn't wait and started walking right away. After just half an hour, we were able to see the outskirts of Mordor. Barren landscapes, rocky slopes, and the Mount Doom looming in the background...

After about an hour of leisurely walking, we reached the first proper ascent, which brought us closer to Mount Doom (and stretched the limits of my breath). But it was definitely worth it for this view.

The flat plain afterwards (the South Crater) was perfect for resting before climbing to the highest point of the track: the summit above the 'Red Crater'.

From there it went downhill... well, the trail, not our state of mind. The descent to the next natural wonder, the Emerald Lakes, was actually quite amusing. We also had the pleasure of watching other hikers trying to descend the path, which consists exclusively of sand and pebbles, with sneakers without constantly landing on their backsides.

To escape the smell of sulfur at the Emerald Lakes, we continued directly to a small lake that was not bluish, but also not foul-smelling.

After a short break for our old bones, including some food for energy, the last part of the journey awaited us: the descent to the pickup point.

There's actually not much to say about it except: crazy! You start the descent between volcanic rock formations on which almost nothing grows. After a while, these rocks give way to yellow grasses that look like my plants at home after I haven't watered them for weeks (uh-oh...). The grasses become increasingly green and the plant diversity increases. And in the final stage, you suddenly find yourself in the jungle, amongst moss-covered trees, various palms, and tall ferns.

Finally, having reached the bottom, we were picked up by the shuttle after a certain waiting time and taken back to Taupo, where the car was waiting for us. Well, and then eating, blogging, sleeping...

Conclusion of the day: 5.5 hours of movement, 19.4 km traveled, 700 meters of ascent, 1100 meters of descent, complete satisfaction, and an extremely comfortable accommodation as a reward.

PS: I didn't tell Tobi, but due to sheer excitement, I forgot to throw the Ring into Mount Doom... so if any of you happen to pass by there, it would be extremely kind to throw the Ring in for me. Thank you very much!