Santa's Surprise Traditional Cache
-
Difficulty:
-
-
Terrain:
-
Size: 
(regular)
Please note Use of geocaching.com services is subject to the terms and conditions
in our disclaimer.
This cache is in memory of Dome Shelter which used to overlook the Crater Lake near the top of Mount Ruapehu. This is the spot that you may remember hearing about in the news when some climbers got into some strife sleeping up there when the mountain erupted in September '07. The views from up here are fantastic. And in the winter on a nice day, the beauty, vastness and absolute silence is breathtaking.
Dome Shelter in May '08
Depending on how you get there, you will need to allow 5-7 hours return from the top car park. This is a serious, unmarked walk and it is essential that you are well prepared and have the correct equipment before attempting this climb. During the summer months there are a number of operators offering guided walks which can be found online. For a bit more more information if going alone:
http://www.nationalpark.co.nz/activities/tongariro-national-park-hike/mount-ruapehu-crater-climb
Unless you have alpine experience and equipment (including ice axe and crampons) do not attempt this walk outside of the summer season. The cache will be well buried then anyway. The terrain rating is based on summer conditions - in the winter it would be 5 stars due to the specialist equipment required.
The cache used to be located inside the shelter, and in the winter the entire shelter was often completely buried in snow and ice. The only access would be down through the chimney - hence the title!
After years of hearing about it's imminent removal, the shelter was finally taken away in February 2018. The cache has now been very kindly replaced by Greenblat nearby to the original site. Spoiler photos below.
Once you've found this cache, not only do you get to log a smiley, but you have also officially bagged another peak as a bonus. Check it out on www.peakbagging.org.nz
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Haqre n obhyqre 8z orybj znexre cbyr, nobhg 20z sebz jurer gur uhg jnf ba gur fnzr pbagbhe, onpx nybat gur AR fvqr bs gur evqtr