Today i did the 17km Tongariro crossing. This walk takes u through the Tongariro national park. THe first half of the walk is a very very steep climb up volcanoes. the ground is lose rocks and extremley hard to walk up. After the first cllimb the vioews back across the volcanic landscape were fantastic. it then falttens out for a short while before the next sttep clime up the volcanoe, here the ground was lose and hard to climb. the top of thid clime is the hogest point on the walk. The vioews from here included the emerald lakes and hot springs. THe lakes here a pure blue from the sulpah are the colour is amazing. it was really good to have mad it to the top of the climb. The walk down was hard as the ground was lose and u were sinking to the ground and had to slide down the side of the volacone. After the lakes the walk is the all downhill and the landscape changes to green, and streams and trees. THe change is dramtic compared to the volcanic landscape the other side of the mountain and is strange to see them so close together. The downhill part does hurt uo knees as its continuous slope for 3 hours. The whole walk to 6 hours and legs ached for days after. but it is so gratifying knowing that i have completed it. The tallest volcnoe here which we walk between is Mt doom in Lord of the Rings so i know hoe frodo felt know!!