Auf Siggies (Steinackers) Fährten

Vor knapp drei Wochen sagte Céline (ICYE Exchangee aus Frankreich) in einem Telefongespräch mit mir, dass sie für alle Exchangees eine Tour durch einen Nationalpark planen wolle. „Tongariro Crossing“ im Tongariro Nationalpark sei einer der beliebtesten Wanderwege Neuseelands durch Vulkan-Krater-Landschaften, ehemalige Lavaströme, vorbei an türkisfarbenen Seen. „Eine super Idee von dir“ sagt ich und da ich von vornherein vorhatte, Wanderungen durch diverse Nationalparks zu machen, beschloss ich kurzer Hand, mit ihr zusammen die gesamte Tour mit zu planen. Infomaterial zur tour und dem Park besorgte ich mir im Tourist-Information-Shop bzw. im Internet und nachdem ich mich eingelesen hatte, fuhr ich zu ihr in den Nachbarort Te Puke, um genaueres zu besprechen. Sie hatte bereits andere ICYE Exchangees angesprochen und war auf großes Interesse gestoßen. Ich selbst klopfte auch noch bei einigen an und kontaktierte das lokale DOC- Office (Department of Conservation), das für die Instandhaltungen bzw. Arbeiten in den Parks zuständig ist; dabei holte ich einige Informationen bezüglich der Tour-Konditionen (Vulkanaktivität, Schnee- und Wettervoraussichten) ein.

Um allen den Ablauf und die benötigte Ausrüstung zu schildern, verfasste ich schließlich noch diese Mail an alle:

Papamoa, 23th of October

Hello everyone,

We are happy to welcome you to our trip on the Tongariro Crossing Track, proceeding from Friday, 26th until Sunday, 28th of October.

As mentioned on the phone, there are some more details about the planned tour in this email, concerning the equipment you should bring with you, as well as some information about our meeting place/ -time.

The transport to Turangi is already managed, therefore all of us (including 4x Tokaanu and 2x Turangi) meet at 7 o’clock at the “NEW WORLD” Shopping Centre in Taurangi, to drive together to the accommodation for our first night: Malte and Tadzio’s placement (this stay will cost 5$, including the possibility to use the bathroom, etc.). For the barbecue evening in Turangi, everybody will have to bring his own meat/ sausages, barbecue will be available.

The tour on the Tongariro Crossing will start on Saturday at 9 o’clock; end is the Ketetahi Hut (1400m). Depending on the weather and track conditions, a side can be taken (by those ones who are experienced in hiking/ who have the required equipment) along a poled route leading to the summit of Mount Tongariro (2 hours return).

As this is not a round trip, we will together think about our way back. Maybe there will be a small group of people, who will walk on Saturday morning from the Ketetahi Hut back to our car park, while the rest finishes the track until the end. Maybe another solution can be found.

For the track you should make sure to provide yourself with the following things:

•be prepared for changeable alpine weather with windproof and rainproof jacket, rain trousers?, warm hat and gloves ( Cotton clothing is not suitable in alpine conditions, this includes jeans)
•STURDY BOOTS (Sports trainers/running shoes and sandals are NOT considered suitable)
•2nd trousers and pullover (in case you get wet)?
•Sunscreen, sun hat and sunglasses
•Warm sleeping bag and camping mat; tent (if available)
•Tissue (for yourself;)
•Your ICYE phone
•Take plenty of drinking water for Saturday with you (Water from the upper Mangatepopo stream, Emerald Lakes and Ketetahi Springs is not suitable for drinking due to high mineral content)
•Food fort he whole Saturday and Sunday morning

Those of you, who don’t have a place in a tent/ prefer a warmer accommodation will sleep in the hut (cooking possibilities are available, e.g. for your dinner). We will tell you the prices for a required hut pass and a camping ground/ place in the hut as soon as we receive this information.

As it would be nice to have breakfast all together, is it possible that everybody provides something (milk, toast, jam, butter etc.)???

Hopefully we will have acceptable weather conditions, everything else will be all right.. Looking forward to seeing you,

Céline and Seba

Ich bin sehr gespannt, wie die Tour verläuft – ist natürlich stark vom wetter abhängig. Was sich alles ereignet hat, dazu in einer meiner kommenden Berichten..