An aerial view of the summit of Mt Ruapehu this morning shows one of the lahars. Photo / Alan Gibson
Herald reporter Juliet Rowan and photographer Alan Gibson flew over Mt Ruapehu this morning. Juliet describes the scene in text and audio while Alan's photo shows the spectacular scene.
At the top of the mountain by the crater lake the snow is completely covered by black ash.
The hut where the man was injured was very difficult to see, it is on a ridge just above the crater lake and it is covered in ash and rocks. Only the door is visible.
It didn't look completely crushed but the roof was hit by boulders and debris which have been thrown up from the crater.
There are various ridges above the crater, the highest would be a couple of hundred feet above the lake which gives you an idea of the force that has thrown the ash and debris up.
Two lahars have been caused by the eruption. For the one that came down the Whakapapa side to have brought the water, ash and debris down there, it has to have been thrown high over the ridges.
It is not a huge lahar but it has come down to very near the top of the western most T-bar ski lift.
It is within metres, maybe 20m, which is pretty close in the scheme of a big mountain.
Also visible are two sets of the tracks of the groomer which was involved in the rescue of the injured man.
Then on the Whangaehu side, where March's lahar was, you can see the outlet where the crater lake releases water. The lahar, water and ash have run down the same path as it ran down in March but is not as huge as that one.
There is also a huge trail of ash that has been blasted up and come down on the Whangaehu side.
At one point, the two lahars meet up.
The offenders took off in a stolen vehicle with cigarettes, cash and other items.
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