Version 1:
“What’s that Pa?”
Point it out, the “What’s that”.
Ah yes, I see what you’re at.
That is that, and this is that.
It’s all to do with…
geological this and thats.
An erupting this over here, and
A gurgling that over there.
“Thanks Pa”.

Version 2:
So mate there’s another of those
recent lava flows.
Vesicular scoria atop aa!
Yep, that’s it mate.
You can tell this one’s older than that one,
because
it has more vegetation (you figured that out,
good one mate), and
the younger flow crept up over the older one.
That’s called Superposition  – will you
remember that for next time mate?
Very important geological principle.
“Yes Pa” (looks in the opposite direction )

And this mate, a bit scary –
Some volcanic rabble rouser tossed this down the flank.
Clouds of gas and lava bits n pieces, churning,
smothering.
No getting away from that one mate – that pyroclastic flow.
Might pay to remember that as well, eh!

Back home:
Nonnie asks “how was that?”
“Really cool. I learned about…
vehicular lava,
some arcane rule about the preferred position,
and when volcanoes are in a bad mood, lots of gas “.

Nice re-cap mate!

Tongaririo Crossing, in Tongariro National Park, is one of New Zealand’s most popular hikes – a good 7 hours to do the complete trail, complete with elevation gain, fumaroles, craters, cold wind. and the ever-present risk of an eruption.  Seriously worth the effort.

The Park is a World Heritage Site.

 

It is centered around the three active volcanoes, Ruapehu, Tongariro, and Ngaruahoe.