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Tongariro Alpine Crossing

Published

9 months ago

January 11, 2025

After nearly two weeks driving the circumference of the South Island (again), Emmett and I had taken our car on the ferry to Wellington. We drove around a bit on the North Island before making our way back up to Auckland to reunite with C.J. But it wasn’t just a reunion we had planned – after a little over 24 hours in Auckland, the three of us headed down to the lakeside town of Taupo so that we could hike the Tongariro Alpine Crossing together.

The Tongariro Alpine Crossing is arguably one of New Zealand’s most popular hikes. The Crossing is a 19.4 kilometer (12.1 mile) walk through active volcanic terrain in World Heritage-listed Tonagriro National Park. According to a NZ Department of Conservation (DOC) worker who we spoke to later that day, the track is most popular in the summertime when there can be upwards of hundreds of hikers attempting the crossing each day. I was stunned to hear it because the Alpine Crossing was not an easy hike by any means. In fact, it was not only very long for a “day hike” but it was also quite strenuous – but more on that later.

There was a biting chill to the air that morning in Taupo. That fact, that it was cold, was one of the only thoughts that the three of us could verbalize after waking up at 5:30 A.M. As we started our hour and a half drive to the track’s start at Mangatepopo Car Park, there was a low-hanging spooky fog on the trees outside. We had picked that particular day to do the Crossing solely because the forecast had called for clear skies – for once. I have said it before and I will say it even one more time, to access any of New Zealand’s native abundance of fantastic scenery, you are at the mercy of some very fickle weather patterns. Something to do with being an island over 4,000 km from the nearest land mass… Anyway, this was actually the second time that Emmett and I had been to Taupo. We had visited for a few days last September shortly after first arriving in New Zealand and had been interested in Tongariro but had, of course, been thwarted by the weather. Anyway, the initial fog made us concerned that our visibility on the mountain would be similar.

Luckily, as we approached Mangatepopo, the weather cleared and then (even better!) stayed that way for the rest of the day. The sun came over the horizon and we started the Crossing. The first part was deceptively easy and consisted of a well-maintained gravel trail and then boardwalk-style path as we got closer and closer to Mount Ngauruhoe. Also, if Mt. Ngauruhoe seems familiar to you, it’s because you may recognize it as Mount Doom from the Lord of the Rings film series.

Emmett and CJ at the start of the trail, the easy bit,

The short boardwalk on the track before the approach to Soda Springs is deceptive: the track only increases greatly in difficulty from then onwards.

We crunched through the icy gravel and up a small incline before we found ourselves at the foot of Mount Ngauruhoe. It was an impressive volcanic cone topped with oxidized iron rocks that gave it a reddish hue. We could see a few miniscule figures loaded with gear making their way up the scree-covered mountainside to the crater. In the summertime, apparently it is possible to make the summit and return as part of a sidetrip from the actual Crossing. Since it was the end of June, aka the shortest days of the year, we reckoned we would not have enough daylight hours to try and do it all. But we certainly enjoyed seeing such a beautiful and dramatic volcano from all the angles below, as we walked on to the South Crater. Also, we were really delighted to find that the sky was clear enough that we could spot Mount Taranaki all the way over on the East Coast, halfway across the country from Ngauruhoe.

The path from Soda Springs to South Crater was one of the more treacherous bits of the Crossing. We had to climb up icy steps with hand chains pegged into the side of the adjacent rock. CJ later told us she had heard that bit was called “The Devils Staircase.” If it had been any icier or the visibility had been any worse, I can imagine that it would be incredibly challenging. Fortunately for us, it ultimately wasn’t even the most difficult part of the track.

The next bit of the journey took us up to the edge of the Red Crater, the very aptly named still-steaming crater that was one of many parts of Mount Tongariro. In fact, technically Mt. Ngauruhoe is part of the larger Mount Tongariro: it’s a parasitic cone. At the top of the Red Crater summit, a friendly DOC sign let us know that we were “halfway” through our hike. I say halfway because I think there estimates are for legitimate hikers because the next half of the crossing took us much longer than the projected time.

After a brief jaunt up the Red Crater’s edge (see above) we found ourselves facing an incredibly steep downhill slope covered in ash and tephra. This was definitely the hardest part of the Crossing, since it was impossible to get solid ground underfoot as you scooted down to the Central Crater of Mount Tongariro. Of the three of us, I in particular kept getting vertigo-like sensations because of the imposing nature of the descent. Have I mentioned before that I grew up somewhere incredibly flat? It’s not in my Florida-girl nature to feel comfortable on steep descents. So I just took my time trying to be as sure-footed as possible – potentially to the chagrin of mountain-siblings Emmett and CJ, though they graciously never mentioned it.

When I finally made my way to the bottom, I was rewarded with a fantastic view of the turquoise Emerald Lakes just off of Central Crater. Apparently, the lakes get their brilliant hue from minerals leeching out of the rocks below Red Crater. Whatever the case may be, they are pretty dang photogenic. I mean, just look at ’em:

After exploring the area around the ice-coated Emerald Lakes, we made the delightfully easy trek across Central Crater. This path was one of my favorite parts of the entire Crossing because the views (which had already been awesome) were the best of all. From across the Central Crater looking back, we could see not only each iconic peak of Tongariro National Park, but also an old lava flow from the Red Crater’s explosion.

From the end of Central Crater, we got one last alpine view: that of the acidic Blue Lake. Quick aside but – is it just me or does it seem like Kiwis love giving things obvious names? North Island, South Island, Blue Lake…? Anyway, it was a lovely light blue that paled (haha…ha) in comparison to the Emerald Lakes but was lovely nonetheless.

After Blue Lake, we got yet another lake view. We rounded a bend on the trail and found ourselves face-to-lake with Lake Taupo. Taupo is itself an old caldera from a supervolcano that erupted just this side of 30,000 years ago. In fact, the area underneath Taupo is still geothermically active as evidenced by fumaroles spewing steam around and across the lake.

The rest of the path is a hangry, frustrated blur, if I’m being honest. We took a zig-zag path down the hillside into native rain forest, which was quite unexpected. By then we’d seen all the different sights there were to see and kept thinking each turn might be the end but it never was. We still had at least an hour’s walk in the forest until we finally reached Ketetahi Car Park at the Crossing’s end. Add that to the fact that I had only had half a granola bar and a carrot to eat and you get a real grumpy gal. I think we were all pretty demolished by the hike by then because the three of us barely spoke. I just kept thinking that if I saw another set of gravel steps in the woods instead of a carpark, I would cry. I nearly did when the steps continued on… and on… and ON. Finally, we did make it.

My frustration was not relieved by finishing, though. I’m sure that Emmett and CJ would say the same. All day, we’d felt pressure to finish the Crossing by 4 PM when it began to get dark (that my friends, is one of the reasons we had an inadequate lunch). Not only that, but we also didn’t have a transportation plan. Our car was parked at the Mangatepopo Car Park nearly 30 kilometers away. Yes, you read that right: further away by road than the hike through the mountains that we’d just done. Emmett and I had previously had a lot of luck hitch-hiking in New Zealand so when we planned our Tongariro Alpine Crossing experience, we figured we could catch a ride with someone back to our car. When we got to the car park, though, we realized that this was not nearly as feasible an option as we had first supposed. First of all, hardly anyone else had a car parked at Ketetahi, as most people aren’t big cheapskates like we are and had splurged for a transport van from one of the many companies in the region offering such a service. Secondly, though we had finished with an hour till sunset, walking out from the car park to the main highway was going to take half an hour minimum. And then we’d be left to take our chances on a wintry remote highway in the dark. Yikes. We were all feelin’ a bit stressed until a very congenial dude with a truck gave the three of us a ride back to our car. Bullet dodged. Thank you hitching karma.

What to Know If You’re Considering Doing the Tongariro Alpine Crossing…

Be prepared for weather changes!!!!
A) Consider adding a buffer of a few extra days in the area to your plan if you really want to do this track. I’ve heard of so many people who had to wait a bad patch of weather out until the Crossing is safe to undertake. It’s one of the reasons Emmett and I didn’t do it on our first visit to Taupo last year. We only stayed two days and the weather was abysmal.B) The track is 19.4 kilometers across alpine terrain. As you can see from my post above, we were incredibly fortunate to have excellent, clear weather on our hike. Also, if you can tell from our pictures: we really layered up on clothes. I personally started the day with a rain jacket, sweater, a hat, mittens, two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, and sturdy boots. While I shed various items of clothing throughout the hike, I also ended up putting some back on as the sun began to lower in the sky. At a minimum bring a rain jacket, a hat, a warm base layer, and sturdy shoes (even in the summertime).
Check the DOC Tongariro page for updates on weather and volcanic activity.

Often if it’s deep into the winter months of July, August, or even early September, DOC will recommend that you not even attempt to do the Crossing without a hired guide (approximately $195 NZD per person). Oh yeah, they also recommend CRAMPONS and ICE AXES. And there could be AVALANCHES. Yes, true winter on Tongariro is a whole ‘nother ballgame. Please, though, no matter what season you go, check out the DOC website to see if there are any warnings that apply to your hike. They also have even more practical recommendations on what to bring with you.
The track is definitely doable but Tongariro Alpine Crossing is not easy if you’re not particularly athletic. Emmett, CJ, and I are all in pretty good physical health but are not in shape. We all felt sore for nearly a week after the hike. And the next day? Phew. I definitely had shin splints and Emmett busted up his knee somehow. The DOC website says they estimate that the track will take between 5.5 or 7.5 hours. It took us about eight hours exactly, with lots of stops for picture-taking. But no lunch break.
Bring plenty of food and water. We had enough water but not enough snacks/lunch, which was foolish and led to unnecessary hanger. Plus, if for some reason you get stuck and have to wait for a rescue ‘copter – you would probably want food & water in that scenario.
Tell someone where you’re going!! Whether it’s a friend or family member back home or the staff at your accommodation, let someone know you’re attempting the Crossing so that they can call the rescue service if you don’t make it down the mountain before nightfall.
I highly recommend doing the track in early winter, like we did. We were able to do the Crossing before any significant snowfall (so no paying for a guide or rental gear) but it was also low season so we didn’t have any of the insane crowds like I’ve seen in friends’ pictures.
You should probably go ahead and pay for transport back to your vehicle with one of the numerous adventure companies around Taupo & the National Park. Unless, of course, you have friends who also have a car and you want to leave one at Ketetahi and take the other to Mangatepopo to start.
If you want to experience all the stunning sights but don’t want to bother with figuring out the whole vehicle debacle, you could definitely hike to the Red Crater or even the Emerald Lakes and back to Mangatepopo and not feel as though you missed much. Nobody told me that the last hour (two in our case) is repetitive forest views. If I had a chance to go back, I’d also love to have enough time to summit Mount Ngauruhoe, so consider planning that into your Crossing.
If you’re feeling especially adventurous, you could stay in either of the huts on the Crossing. Be sure to book ahead online as they can fill up fast. OR you could do the longer, multi-day Tongariro Northern Circuit trek and have a chance to see more of Mount Ruapehu and the National Park.

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Traditional Festivals in Modern China

Published

20 hours ago

October 6, 2025

Mark Rober

When you learn Mandarin online or studying with an online Chinese teacher, the names of festivals such as 春节 (Spring Festival), 中秋节 (Mid-Autumn Festival), and 端午节 (Dragon Boat Festival) are often among the first pieces of cultural vocabulary encountered. Yet behind these familiar terms lies a long history of ritual practices, social customs, and symbolic meanings that have undergone significant transformation in modern Chinese society.

The Spring Festival, for instance, has always been the most important holiday in China, traditionally marked by ancestral worship, reunion dinners, and symbolic acts to welcome prosperity. In the past, rituals such as offering sacrifices to household gods or setting off firecrackers to ward off evil were central. While some of these customs remain, modernization has altered the festival landscape. Today, the Spring Festival is characterized as much by televised galas, digital 红包 (red envelopes) sent via mobile apps, and mass domestic travel as by traditional family rituals. The meaning of “reunion” persists, but its expression has expanded with technology and urban life.

The Mid-Autumn Festival also illustrates this transformation. Historically associated with moon worship and poetic reflection, its essence was rooted in agricultural cycles and ancient cosmology. Today, while the round mooncake continues to symbolize family unity, the festival is now also celebrated through commercial branding, tourism, and even large-scale public events. Its ancient connotations remain, but they coexist with contemporary interpretations that align with modern lifestyles.

The Dragon Boat Festival similarly demonstrates the adaptability of traditions. Once a ritual of exorcism and seasonal protection, centered on rowing boats to drive away disease and misfortune, it later became associated with commemorating the poet Qu Yuan. In contemporary China, the festival balances heritage activities such as dragon boat racing and eating 粽子 (rice dumplings) with broader cultural celebrations, often promoted as expressions of intangible cultural heritage.

At the language school GoEast Mandarin, discussions of Chinese festivals are essentially taught together with language instruction, ensuring that learners not only memorize terms but also gain an understanding of their evolution and continuing relevance.

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How Fast Can a Hoverboard Go? A Complete Guide to Hoverboard Speeds

Published

7 days ago

September 30, 2025

Mark Rober

Hoverboards have come a long way since they first became a viral sensation. What commenced as a futuristic-looking toy is now a famous private transport choice for kids, teens, and even adults. But one query nearly all and sundry asks before shopping for is: how quickly can a hoverboard go?

The reply relies upon a few factors like the model, motor power, wheel size, and who’s driving it. In this article, we’ll break it all down so you’ll be aware of precisely what to anticipate when selecting the proper hoverboard for your needs.

Average Hoverboard Speeds

On average, most well-known hoverboards attain speeds between 6 mph and 10 mph. That may additionally no longer sound extraordinarily fast, however when you’re standing upright and balancing on two wheels, it feels enormously quick.

To put that into perspective:

6 mph is roughly the velocity of a brisk jog.

10 mph is close to the pace of a leisure cyclist.

For youthful riders, such as these, the use of a kid’s hoverboard, producers regularly restrict the velocity to the lower quit of this range for safety reasons. Adult models, however, may additionally provide greater pinnacle speeds, depending on their design.

Factors That Affect Hoverboard Speed

Not all hoverboards are constructed the same. Here are the essential elements that decide how speedy a hoverboard can go:

1. Motor Power

Hoverboards generally use electric-powered motors ranging from 150W to 400W per wheel. An extra effective motor presents more desirable acceleration and greater pinnacle speeds. Premium fashions with twin 400W motors can push speeds up to 12–15 mph.

2. Wheel Size

Wheel dimensions are more than most people think. Smaller 6.5-inch wheels are frequent on entry-level boards and are high-quality, suitable for easy pavements. Larger 8.5-inch or 10-inch wheels, frequently found on off-road models, can cope with rougher terrain and occasionally provide higher pinnacle speeds.

3. Rider’s Weight

Most hoverboards are designed with an endorsed weight range, typically forty four lbs to 220 lbs. Lighter riders might also no longer attain most speeds due to the fact the sensors don’t have interaction fully, whilst heavier riders would possibly observe a slower tempo if the board struggles to hold up.

4. Battery Performance

Hoverboards run on rechargeable lithium-ion batteries. As the battery cost drops, so can the speed. A completely charged board will constantly supply height performance, whilst an almost drained one may sense sluggish.

5. Terrain and Conditions

Smooth pavements permit for greater speeds, whilst grass, gravel, or uneven paths naturally sluggish the hoverboard down. Uphill climbs additionally minimize speed, whereas downhill stretches can make it experience faster.

How Fast Can Different Types of Hoverboards Go?

Not every hoverboard is constructed for the same purpose. Let’s appear at some classes and their standard speeds:

Standard Hoverboards

Top Speed: 6–10 mph
Best for: Everyday fun, informal rides, beginners

These are the most frequent fashions and the ones most households choose. They’re safe, reliable, and provide a stability between velocity and stability.

Off-Road Hoverboards
Top Speed: 10–12 mph
Best for: Adventure seekers, out of doors use

Equipped with better wheels, rugged tires, and enhanced motors, off-road hoverboards are made for trails, grass, and grime paths. They provide barely greater speeds however shine most in their sturdiness and terrain handling.

High-Performance Hoverboards

Top Speed: 12–15 mph
Best for: Adults, enthusiasts, thrill-seekers

These top rate boards pack effective motors and superior self-balancing technology. While faster, they’re commonly no longer advocated for younger young people due to the greater velocity and talent required to manage them.

Children’s Hoverboards

Top Speed: 6–7 mph
Best for: Younger riders (ages 6–12)

For kids, security is usually the pinnacle priority. That’s why a children’s hoverboard is designed to restrict velocity whilst nevertheless imparting the excitement of gaining knowledge of stability and movement. Parents can relaxation certain understanding their infant won’t be zipping round too quickly.

Is Hoverboard Speed Safe?

Safety is a frequent subject when it comes to hoverboards. Even even though they don’t attain intense speeds, riders need to always:

Wear a helmet, knee pads, and elbow pads.

Start gradual to construct self assurance earlier than checking out greater speeds.

Ride in protected areas away from busy roads and heavy traffic.

At the common 6–10 mph range, hoverboards are normally secure as lengthy as riders comply with the policies and use shielding gear.

Tips to Get the Most Out of Your Hoverboard

If you desire your hoverboard to persistently operate at its nice speed, preserve these guidelines in mind:

Charge wholly earlier than use – a low battery can have an effect on pace and performance.

Stick to endorsed weight limits – overloading can gradual down the board.

Choose the proper terrain – smoother surfaces assist you flow faster.

Maintain your hoverboard – preserve the wheels smooth and take a look at for put on and tear.

Conclusion: How Fast Is “Fast Enough”?

So, how quickly can a hoverboard go? For most riders, the candy spot is 6–10 mph—fast sufficient to experience exciting, however protected ample for day-to-day fun. Advanced fashions can push up to 15 mph, however that’s normally reserved for grownup enthusiasts.

If you’re shopping for for a child, a children’s hoverboard that caps out round 6–7 mph is the best stability of exciting and safety. For adults who favor some thing extra thrilling, off-road or high-performance fashions would possibly be well worth considering.

At the cease of the day, the first-class hoverboard isn’t constantly the fastest—it’s the one that fits the rider’s needs, age, and self assurance level.

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Instagram privacy strategies that give you total control

Published

1 week ago

September 28, 2025

Mark Rober

Instagram, which boasts over two billion users, is also a platform for connection and creativity. But there is a catch to its popularity: your privacy. Apps such as Imginn are used to anonymously view public accounts, leading to concerns about who can access your information. As data breaches and targeted ads become a growing concern for privacy, it’s crucial to take control of your Instagram privacy settings.

This article will provide you with step-by-step actions to help protect your Instagram account. You will learn how to control who sees your content, minimize data collection, and enhance the security of your account while improving Instagram data protection.

Statistic	Value/Percentage	Source
Instagram Users Concerned About Privacy	68%	Pew Research
Users Unaware of Instagram Privacy Settings	45%	Global Privacy
Data Breaches on Instagram in the Past Year	12 Million	CyberNews
Increase in Cyberbullying Cases on Instagram	22%	Anti-Defamation
Users Actively Limiting Data Sharing	35%	Statista

Switch to a Private Account

To best protect your Instagram account, the most effective step is to make your account private. That way, only followers you accept can see your posts, stories, and reels. This is a simple switch that isolates your personal content from the public internet.

To make your account private:

Go to your profile and click the three horizontal lines in the top right.
Go to Settings and Privacy.
Choose “Account privacy” and slide the button next to “Private account” to the right.

Although rivals like TikTok and Facebook offer similar private account capabilities, Instagram’s relationship with its parent company, Meta, means that your data can be shared across the family of apps. This makes securing your account even more important.

Manage Your Messages and Story Replies

Unwanted spam and junk messages can be more than a mere nuisance; they can also lead to fraud, luring unsuspecting users into scam schemes. Instagram gives you control over who can message you directly.

To manage message requests:

In Settings and privacy, touch Messages and story replies.
Select Message controls.
Here, you can choose whether message requests can be sent to you (you can restrict them only to followers or disable them entirely for people you do not follow).

Unlike Signal or WhatsApp, which default to end-to-end encryption, Instagram’s direct messages aren’t so secure, though you can start an end-to-end encrypted chat manually. This makes controlling who can send you messages an important part of preserving your own privacy.

Control Who Sees Your Content

With a private account, however, you may want to control the visibility of certain posts or stories. You can also block other people from sharing your stuff. Stay wary of tools like Pixwox, which enable anonymous stalking and downloading of Instagram content, underscoring the ongoing need for robust privacy controls.

Hide Your Story: You can hide your stories from certain followers without blocking them.
Restrict Tagging and Mentions: You can adjust who is able to tag you in photos by visiting the Tags and mentions section of your privacy settings. You can also review tags before they show up on your profile. This way, unwanted photos don’t appear on your page.
Limit Who Can Share Your Story: From within the Sharing and reuse section, you can prohibit others from sharing your story posts in messages or adding your feed posts to their own stories.

Limit Data Tracking for Ads

Instagram’s revenue model depends on your data to show targeted ads. You can’t fully opt out, but you can restrict how your information is used.

You can find “Ad Preferences” in your Accounts Center.
Check Ad topics and deselect the interests you don’t want advertisers to target.
You may manage the data you receive from partners under Ad settings to minimize personalized advertising.

Strengthen Your Account Security

Balancing good privacy with sound security is crucial. Here are three simple steps you can take to protect your account from unauthorized access.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA): This creates an extra layer of security, requiring a code from your phone or an authenticator app to log in. It is one of the most effective ways to keep hackers at bay.
Strong Unique Password: Don’t use a common word for the password, and don’t use the same password again over more than one site/service. A strong password should include a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols.
Use a VPN: a Virtual Private Network (VPN), which helps you encrypt your internet connection and offers online privacy, with the result that nobody can snoop on your IP address or online activity. This is particularly beneficial when using public Wi-Fi, where packets can be easily intercepted.

Take Back Your Digital Privacy

The best part of controlling your Instagram privacy settings is that you’re taking control over your digital footprint. With a private account, you can control who can contact you directly and enhance your security at the same time. By taking these preventative measures, you will shield your sensitive information from the public sphere.