Tongariro Crossing

I ran an out and back from Whakapapa village to the top of the Tongariro Crossing (a famous track) today.  The other side is technically closed and we were in one of the top two craziest winds I have every been in --- this one was the coldest.  I thought I might get frostbite.  The ground did --- incredible hoarfrost in the dirt up there --- and it snowed last night.  It was cold. The rest was fabulous.  Here are some satellite photos from the watch. 

 We were in a cloud as we crossed and could not see the small crater lakes near the end of our run.  The cone in the bottom of the two pictures is Mt. Ngauruhoe.