Ascent Of Mt. Doom

After a late start, I reached the summit of Ngauruhoe about 4PM--a very long and discouraging 3,800 foot grind for these old bones. The main difficulty is the ground, which is largely tephra, sharp, jagged volcanic rock that comes in every size from fine sand to large boulder. The crux of this mountain is to stay on or near the rock to the left of the white band. The white is an awful scree and talus slope that some use for descent but that is dangerous for rockfall. I used it--a slow-motion glissade lasting more than an hour--but only after I was sure I was the last person on the mountain.

On the Tongariro track, at the start of the climb; the white slope and the rock
ridge to its left

Looking across Tongariro's south crater, the Tongariro track in plain view

A mile or so away, trampers at a high point on the Tongariro

The terrain...keep left!

The slope, variously estimated between 33 and 45 degrees

In the distance, Lake Taupo

"Smoke rises from the Mountain of Doom...the hour is late..."

Thus, up closer, near the crater rim

One Does Not Simply Walk Into Mordor

The volcano Mt. Ngauruhoe starred in The Lord of the Rings as Mount Doom (aka Oroduin or Amon Amarth), and its summit crater is the goal of any fit Ringwaif. It lies just off the Tongariro Northern Circuit Track, New Zealand's most popular Great Walk, and the Department of Conservation (aka Te Papa Atawhai) wants you to know that one does not simply walk into Tongariro...

On To Taupo And Beyond

Our visit to Napier was not without a little excitement. Vicki found a beautiful Art Nuvo pitcher, in great condition, and was interested enough to do a little internet research...which revealed it to be a known reproduction, for which the store was asking $1200. Seriously. No sale. I, on the other hand, fell for a $12 Art Deco bottle opener from Paris, which I promptly bought, if for no other reason than literary foreshadowing...

Thus; nice relief of the Little Corporal on the other side

Anyhow, we drove back WNW toward the center of the island, Lake Taupo,
and New Zealand volcano country; above are Waipunga Falls

We tented that night at a place called Reid Farm, which a local farmer had willed
to the city council on the condition that it be a "freedom" camp; above is the
chute of the Waikato River leading to the famous falls

The famous falls, Huka Falls, themselves; not terribly scenic, but lots of water,
moving fast

As we approach Lake Taupo, Mt. Doom, 30 miles away, rises, um, ominously,
above the clouds; perhaps I should explain that Lake Taupo is the caldera of a
supervolcano that has blown up quite a few times in the past many millennia,
most recently in 181 AD or so, when the skies over both China and Rome went
red; earlier eruptions are conjectured to have triggered some of the previous Ice
Ages; anyhow, we are in volcano country now, many of them active

Taupo is a nice town, touristy indeed, but tasteful touristy
(don't ask me to explain); alas, we spent more time in the
shoppes and stimulating the local economy than in taking
pix of the town (except for a few to make it to the Out-
Takes); so pretty much all I have to show for Taupo is this
image of a local rubbish bin (for my forthcoming Trash Bins
of the World study)

Above Lake Taupo, heading west; the lake is some 238 square miles; little
volcanoes dotting the horizon

Further along, approaching the slopes of Mt. Tongariro, where a bit of a side-vent
eruption has been going since 2012

Thus

And thus; Mt. Doom, aka Mt. Ngauruhoe, is Tongariro's next door neighbor;
technically, merely another side-vent of Tongariro (so I've read)

Wellington's Embassy Cinema

Another Ringwaif must-see, Wellington's Art Deco Embassy Cinema...

Sculpture across the street

Facade

A few interior shots

Ditto

Ditto again

And again

Now playing (with half a dozen others, in the small but very
comfy little theaters (there also are a restraurant and bar/cafe
plus the usual cinematic refreshments))

Original poster, big debut, 2001

The big hall

Wellington, 2B

It certainly wasn't our busiest day ever, but it was a good day and ultimately will take five posts to recount.

At Carducci's, on Happy Valley Road

Officially it's a mini-golf course

But actually it's someone's massive outdoor iron sculpture
garden

Impressive too

"Get off the road!" Next we were on Mount Victoria,
revisiting some favorite LOTR sites

Now with signage

Where the four hobbits hid from the Black Rider

Getting eroded away by all the visitors and tours

At the foot of Mount Victoria, a typical New Zealand
playground; best we've seen, anywhere

But the day wasn't over...we got back to our room to see
that 12 Years A Slave had won Best Picture; so we went to
see it that evening at the Embassy, Wellington's great old
Art Deco cinema, where LOTR had its debut(s) (another post)

Wellington, 2A

Our second day in Wellington was a busy, very photogenic day...

Looking back to the city, from the harbor, in or near Miramar

Looking toward the harbor mouth

Stopped for lunch near the harbor mouth, another floating
hotel glides by

Penguins, even on North Island

Mustering of the Rohirrim

Really, really nice house, with its own funicular, view...

The vistas just won't stop...

Ditto

Nor do the dangers to be surmounted by
fearless Ringwaifs

Setting for the Black Gate scenes

A ferry approaches from South Island

At a great DOC exhibit we are still learning about the tides...