Sunrise on Mount Ngauruhoe

After an early start under a full moon from the Mangatepopo Hut, I approach the wide crater rim of Ngauruhoe on steep, loose and yielding scree slopes – two steps forward, one step back. What makes for leaps of joy on the descent has to be dearly paid for on the way up. On the eastern side of the crater rim, sulphurous vapours rise; signs of activity. As dawn breaks, the contours of the North Island slowly emerge: the Kaimanawa Mountains to the east, Lake Taupo and Mt. Tarawera to the north, and to the west, the brother volcano Taranaki by the Tasman Sea.