The Surprising Joys of a Crowded Hiking Trail
Plus: People now want nose jobs you’ll barely notice
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The highlight of my last week, and quite possibly of the whole year, was the eight hours I spent hiking the Tongariro Crossing in New Zealand — the greatest day hike in the world, according to many. I went midweek, but still shared the trail with hundreds of other hikers, including a boisterous group of schoolkids. That’s far from surprising: The Crossing is one of the most popular hikes on the planet.