Day 48 - Mangaehuehu

Today I had a late start, my hiking friends were gone before I got outta bed. A 9am start. 

For the next two days I am doing a side excursion off the TA route. Normally walkers would hike 50km to the Whanganui river and start their canoe journey. Since I have already done that there is no point of me walking to the river and back. Instead, to make up the lost kms, I will be walking the ‘Round the Mountain’ trail. The mountain being Mt. Ruapehu that is in the area. The massive snow capped dormant volcano. We decided to do it in 2 days rather than the recommended 4-6 days. 

I passed a waterfall early. 

I did a detour to a couple lakes in old craters. Here I am walking right inbetween the two major mountains in Tongariro Park. Mt.Doom on my left, Mt. Ruapehu on the right. 

Also my 11am photo.

As I continued hiking I left the Great Walk and entered the round the mountain track. The track turned into dried up stream beds and across volcano rocky plains. Here there was no trail, simply marker poles every 25m or so. Great walks get all the funding clearly. 

It was starting to get late so put in the earbuds and trail ran the last 7km. Arriving at the hut around 8pm. A good days effort, maybe the most challenging day on trail yet. A quick dinner and off to bed.