.png)
Day 30!
22.5km, 8 hours.
Brent's back writing in the hut book. And on three pages so that we wouldn't miss it he wrote' Laura, Conny and Renay' there is a picture for you at Manuka Hut'. Firstly getting a message in the hut book is like receiving a post card. It's so exciting! Something as small as a note! Just goes to show how much I'm loving being totally disconnected from the world during these sections.
We had also read someone's comment that there was to be 57 river crossings for us today. We assumed they were exaggerating but after 3 hours of hiking up a gorge first thing, they were correct, David has counted 57 times we crossed the river. What made the crossings more complicated (but still so fun) was the fact the river wasn't clear, it was Snow melt, so we couldn't judge how deep the water was or where the rocks were. The alternate options at some points were paths through prickly matagouri and honestly you hate getting so scratched on your freezing cold wet legs that youd rather choose the freezing river option.
I was the 'leader' this morning. Or more so the guinea pig that went through all the crossings first to find out how deep it was. Thankfully only once did I get deep up to my undies. (Not fun to walk with wet undies...) The rest of the crossings were around knee height.
It made for such a fun morning! We climbed up to the saddle at ???m I think it was 7km of solid up hill. I felt so unfit today for some reason but the beauty of the scenery made up for it. It was like being in another world with all these peaks around. Despite now contending with spear grass that stabbed my legs repeatedly all over and left me walking half the day with bloody legs. It was honestly like I'd been pin pricked a billion times over on my legs and I was leaking blood. I've spent most of the day removing tiny splinters that half the spikes left in.
All of us had lunch together at the saddle just basquing in the sun admiring the views, before embarking on a series of scree traverses which to be honest looked a lot more daunting looking at them from our lunch spot then it was actually walking across it. I thought I had seen the best scenery for the day but it just kept getting more spectacular.
I walked the afternoon on my own and was just loving walking in silence looking out at the views. I couldn't believe that something so beautiful so close to Christchurch and id never been here or walked it. It seems that it is only a TA part we haven't met any locals doing this section.
We passed Double Hut today and it was literally only 500m off the track but near the end of the day after 25km, baking in the sun all day without any shade whatsoever I thought nah, I won't go see it I'll just keep on doing the last 5km to Manuka Hut to get my picture from Brent. Arrive at the hut, look in the intentions book and the note reads 'sorry picture is at Stone Hut'. I was so angry! Then I noticed graffiti on the hut wall saying Brett = so dumb, and I thought I could easily change Brett into Brent so I did, took a photo and will send it on to Brent when next in service. The other terrible thing I realised when we got to Manuka Hut. Sir Edmond Hillary had stayed at Double Hut in the 50s and had signed the roof and it's still there and protected. THE ONLY HUT I SKIPPED ALL TRAIL! we had all thought it was at Manuka Hut.
I am so loving this little crew I'm staying with each night. It really is so fascinating how you can have a Kiwi, 2 Austrians, a french guy and an Aussie hanging out together like we've been friends for forever each night. It's really special. We've got a good chocolate, tuna and OSM bar trade going on amongst us as well. After a month people start to get sick of certain flavours so there's always someone willing to do a swap.
Caught up with Sam at the hut for a few hours before he continued on another 10km. It's funny how you can just meet someone once and you feel like you've known them forever. Something about having the same sense of humour, both done a lot of the same travel so you share common experiences. And so that person just feels so familiar. Sam's going to try and cross the Rangitata rather than shuttle around so if his name's not in the first hut book I know he didn't make it...
Even despite the spear grass, matagouri and thistles I'd easily rate this walk today as one of my favourites! Possibly my second favourite day on trail. I will definitely be back to do this stretch again!!
Ren x
Yorumlar