The bizarre rock formations of the Animal Biscuit Valley at the North Island sport climbing mecca of Froggatt Edge.

Jeff Dunbar > New Zealand - N Island

The bizarre rock formations of the Animal Biscuit Valley at the North Island sport climbing mecca of Froggatt Edge.

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Natalie enjoying her first tramping experience above the snow line as we approach the saddle with Mt. Doom in the background.

At about this point, I realized just how out of shape I really was... Oh well. Carpe Diem!

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Jeff Dunbar

Sep 23, 2007

“The bizarre rock formations of the Animal Biscuit Valley at the North Island sport climbing mecca of Froggatt Edge.”

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Our nice walk around the volcanoe is about to get much steeper as we are headed for the saddle above the snow line. Natalie is the tiny red dot on the far left...

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Natalie enjoying her first tramping experience above the snow line as we approach the saddle with Mt. Doom in the background.

The bizarre rock formations of the Animal Biscuit Valley at the North Island sport climbing mecca of Froggatt Edge.

At about this point, I realized just how out of shape I really was... Oh well. Carpe Diem!

Natalie cleaning the anchor after another fun sport climb at Froggatt Edge.

Can you guess why this beautiful alpine lake near the top of the volcanoe was not frozen over with ice? (hint: the rocks near the shore were steaming and there was a strong smell of sulfur in the air)

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The south face of Mt. Ngauruhoe. As we discovered on our 26-mile walk, this volcanoe looks exactly the same from every angle...its a perfect cone.

Farmland Crag of Sheridan Hills in Wharepapa South

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