roseknows20-blog

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 26 Easy hiking daze- Crooked Spur Hut to Royal Hut

February 3rd, 2017 What a dazzling day for hiking! As I awake to an illuminating bright blue sky, the sunshine once again assists in motivating me for a day of tramping. Like most humans, the weather most certainly has an effect on my mood, as well as, the speed in which I get out of bed in the morning. You can count on me to be the last one to get out of my warm snuggly sleeping bag. Hehe. Unlike yesterday, we had an early start, ensuring we made time for a leisurely breakfast, packing up our belongings, and were ready to cruise by 9am. I also had an astounding morning "doodey", accompanied by a spectacular view, probably giving the hut toilet a 5 star rating. Dyl and I have been keeping track of which huts have the best "dunnys", as they say here in New Zealand, and the main criteria for a 5 star is the view. Consequently, a great view allows for the most enjoyable "number twos". And, Crooked Spur Hut, definitely had my vote for having the highest ranking so far! Good info, I know. Anywho, Rowan and Dyl got a head start, leaving the hut at 815am, while I stayed back and took my precious time and talked to the Aussies for a bit. Slowly but surely, I departed from the hut around 845am, imminently starting the gradual climb up and around Crooked Spur. Fortunately for me, alpine climate is ideal for hiking, and the crisp morning air cooled my lungs as I took deep inhales and even deeper exhales. Passing through the thick shrub and loose scree, I made it to the top of the 1500m unnamed saddle in less than an hour. As I was above tree line, there was high exposure, and the terrain revealed impeccable views of the brown rolling hills and ginormous mountains looming over me. However, at the same time, I had to stay cognizant of every step I took along the way, avoiding stepping on or brushing the "Spanard". By the end of the day, that vicious plant had given me a series of cuts and an irritating rash all over my legs! Gee wilikers! After the saddle, the trail marking poles were a bit more scattered and challenging to find. As the track steeply descends down into the valley, I even took my headphones off so I could remain attentive and focus on the direction I was going. Even so, it was still a tranquil day, as I continued gliding at a consistent medium pace. Nowadays, I cleverly make my own path and ignore the exact markings of the trail. Especially when the track takes you away from the direct route. So, I was doing my thang as I trekked along absorbing the sun and astonishing scenery. One aspect I appreciate while hiking alone is having a chance to fully immerse myself amongst the calming silence and serenity of the great outdoors, without distractions or interruptions from humans, technology, or the likes. It truly has a healing quality and I'm grateful for the opportunity to spend such a long time within the wilderness. Even though, dark clouds began to stroll in, and a bright and sunny morning, slowly turned into a dreary early afternoon. Of course, there were a few of the usual straightforward river crossings and slippery swampy areas, so my feet were also saturated for most of the day. Eventually, I spotted an unfamiliar wooden bridge and ancient looking hut in the distance. From the first hut to the second, Stone Hut, it was 9.5kms. The trail notes say it takes 5 hours but it only took me 3. Stone hut reminded me of Crooked Spur Hut, and had that same old musterer cabin feel. The boys were still ahead, so I had lunch there, and took my time raveningly taking pleasure in my peri peri tuna, cheese, and tortilla wrap. As I was finishing up at the hut, Morgan arrived, a charming Swedish guy who is also doing the TA SOBO. So, I chatted with him awhile, and then made my way to the next hut. From Stone Hut, it was 5.5 kms to Royal Hut, which is where we were planning on sleeping for the night. The track was overtly simple, continuing along adjacent to Bush Stream the whole way. As the sun roasted my wearied body, I listened to a few podcasts to keep me entertained. I also became overly excited when passing the occasional bunny, lizard, and/or the grasshoppers galore! There aren't many exotic animals in NZ, well at least animals we see on the trail, and so any sight or interaction with them is enthralling! Although the trail notes said it would take 2 hours, it took me an hour and 15 minutes to reach Royal Hut. As I strolled in, Dyl and Rowan were already drying out their belongings. The hut was well equipped, with 8 bunks, a toilet, and a dodgey looking fire place. Morgan arrived shortly after me, and we all decided to go for a refreshing "swim" in the river. Although, the river wasn't anymore than two feet deep, making it difficult to fully submerge our dirty hiking bods. As it was only 130pm, and we still had plenty of time in the day, we spent the afternoon laying out in the sun and stuffing our faces with our "extra" food. I enjoyed having time to relax and sit and do nothing- what a concept! After baking in the sun for hours on end, we were all feeling drained and took a pleasant afternoon nap. When I awoke, a new friend had joined us at the hut, her name was Rene from Oz and was also doing the TA SOBO. For dinner, I cooked the usual couscous and peas with some extra seasoning for a change in flavor. Although it doesn't sound too appetizing, you learn to love the simplest of foods on a thruhike. That being said, I'm definitely looking forward to a real diet and fresh fruits and veggies after we've completed the trail. I did make a sick crepe concoction for dessert- a crunchy snickers smothered in extra peanut butter, jelly, and then wrapped in a tortilla and pan fried. J*zz. As the boys, Rene, and I socialized a bit after our evening meals, we collaborated on a few singalongs, and dosed off to singing Aerosmith. All in all, it was an easygoing type of day, that I think Dylan, Rowan, and I all appreciated! (15km)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 25 We did it! Mt Somners Campground to Crooked Spur Hut

February 2nd, 2017 On this bright sunny morning, we had a classic late start, feeling exceedingly hungover and drowsy. Idiotically, I ended up falling asleep on a bed of rocks near the river. What goes on? I eventually made it to my tent though, because that's where I surprisingly woke up! My head was pounding and I continued squirming in my sleeping bag as long as I could, until Dylan was a stern Steven about my hungover bum getting up and out. Boxed wine always give me the worst hangovers, yet, I continue to drink it because it's the cheapest alcohol here in NZ! #brokebackpackerproblems. Anyway, it was a long day ahead of us, having to detour and possibly walk 70 kms around the Rangitata river. It's unfortunate the trail requires us to "break" from hiking, but I think it comes down to a liability issue, as they don't want to suggest people crossing the Rangitata river and then injuring themselves. We've heard that sometimes it's crossable, however, when it's not, you have to do the detour that we planned on following through with today. Luzie decided to skip the next section because her shin splints were still bothersome, and the Americans/Pea were procrastinating and making moves quite slowly, so, Dyl, Rowan, and I scampered about and figured we should carry on. Dyl solo hitched first, then Rowan and I paired together and hitched the 50kms to Arundel from our free campsite in Mt Somners. After ten minutes or so, we happened to get a ride in a motorhome from a vacationing English couple that were staying at the same campsite as us. Luckily enough, Rowan had a cordial talk with the couple this morning, and I think it helped our hitching game! When we arrived at Arundel, we prayed we'd get another ride, at least the 10km or so to Peel forest, which was where Dylan was. Arundel began our 70km "hike" down the road to where the next track began. After a few cars passed, and sadly didn't stop for us, we began strolling along the old backcountry road. Finally, a pair of lovely English newly weds stopped and offered us a ride to Peel Forest! When we got there, we unified with Dyl and made a game plan. From Peel Forest, it was 55km to the trailhead for the Two Thumbs track. The guy Mike, who owns the small convenient store and bar, said we would be better off hitching down the road after the campground. As we were hanging around the store, we also treated ourselves to refreshing ice cream and iced coffee. Eventually, we took Mike's advice, and planned to start walking towards the campground. Shortly after we adventured to the road, we noticed a Subaru coming our way! Dyl stuck his thumb out real quick and kindly enough they stopped! It was a young kiwi couple on their way to go rafting, and agreed to drop us off 15kms down the road. Although a bit squished, they allowed all three of us to ride with them. Once they dropped us off, we sincerely thanked them and wished them luck on their rafting trip! And so, we slowly sauntered along for a few more kms, wishing a car would stroll up behind us. We were planning on walking the remaining 40 kms or so, until our ears perked up and we heard a car in the distance. An elderly Canadian man by the name of Howard stopped and generously gave us a ride to the end of the road, which was conveniently where the trailhead was! To say the least, he was quite interesting, going into extensive detail about his pack of young girlfriends, whom he pays for their schooling. #sugardaddy. Dyl admitted to being young and single and thought good man Howard could maybe help him out with his student loans as well? Lolz. Howard also explained to us about his hyponic profession, and gallantly admitted to publishing numerous books. Unfortunately, the boys had me sit in the front, forcing me to do most of the awkward talking. Even though at time the conversations with Howard made us all a bit uncomfortable, it was worth the discomfort to not have to walk the 70km tedious road section. After we said our goodbyes to old man Howard, we commenced our next journey into the remote wilderness. Remarkably enough, all three of us attained getting to the trailhead in one day, which we thought was going to be rather difficult and nearly impossible! As there were no signs for the trailhead, we were unsure exactly where the track began, and used our handy dandy GPS to head towards the trailhead with a birds eye view. As we were walking along, the wind intensified, and it seemed as though like the "gales" were going at a speed of 100km per hour or more! Although we cut through a private road to get there, at last we made it to the beginning of the track around 3pm. Just as we began tramping, we spotted our English friends Francis and Caroline coming towards us! Unfortunately, Caroline wasn't feeling well, and they were going to take it easy and not continue on. After our satisfying and necessary lunch break, to soak up the remaining cheap wine left in my stomach, the boys and I started "actually" hiking for the day! Our plan was to trek only 9kms to the first hut. Thankfully, the track was mostly a flat basic path, running adjacent to Bush Stream almost entirely the whole way. However, let it be known, some of the "streams" had strong currents, and I had to stay concentrated on not falling over and/or risking injuring to myself. As I sluggishly lifted one foot up and placed it back down, and then repeated with the other, my hangover was also still prominent. Thus, hiking felt more like an undesirable job then a pleasurable activity. Four kms or so down the track, we hit the "sawtooth"- a hilly outcrop that we went straight up and over to avoid the high river. It's mentioned in the trail notes that if the river is low, you can carry on along the riverbank. However, we didn't wanna take our chances with the strong currents, and preceded to climb up the arduous hill. The way back down was tremendously steep and slippery, and my wretched body was not too thrilled about having to exert so much energy. After the sawtooth, we continued following the river until we approached a gradual ascent, climbing our way up the hill, and then the typical TA bringing us immediately back down again. Although the climb was demanding, the scenic gorge and views of the immense valley below were breathtaking. When we rejoined the river, the boys and I were keen to take a snack and hydration break, especially before the final km. The last part of the track was a steep strenuous climb up to the Crooked Spur hut, and I slothfully took my time getting up that darn hill. Although I was feeling extremely unmotivated, the vast mountains and roaring Rangitata river provided glorious views in the distance. I can always count on the serenity of nature to serve as a reminder as to why I'm hiking an absurd amount of kms through the length of an entire country. Much love to beautiful New Zealand! When we arrived at the old musterer's hut, some TA walkers had beat us to the punch. There was a NOBO French Canadian hiker named Isabelle, who barely spoke English, and two chill Aussie SOBOers, Jesse and Declan. The trail notes said the hut only had five bunks, but there was actually eight, as well as a toilet and old fire place. Water was accessible via the nearby creek. A few other trampers had said the hut was a piece of crapola, but I thought it had a pleasant historical feel to it. There was also the bonus of having table and chairs! After a much needed fulfilling carbohydrates dinner, as per usual, I took a mini nap and read on my nook. We were expecting the American boys and Pea to show up, but there was never a sign from them! Feeling fatigued, and after not sleeping much the previous night, we all went to bed reallllly early like 9pm. It seems like whenever the sun goes down it's time for us TA hikers to catch some Zzzzsss! (11kms plus + hitching)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 24 Crushing Sections, Slapping Bags-Hamilton Hut to Mt Somners

February 2nd, 2017 After a pleasant night sleep, the boys and I got up early to get the show on the road. Rowan got ahead start early around 7am, and then Dylan preceded about an hour after him. Eventually, I left the hut around 845am, after meticulously packing my belongings and chatting with the others. From Hamilton Hut, it was 18 drawn out kms to Lake Colderidge. Similarly to the previous day, the track followed the Harper river most of the way. The good news was that the track was flat, which allowed me to cruise at a steady pace of 5kms an hour. The bad news was the trail markers were sporadic and quite difficult to keep track of. At one point, I accidentally got lost, and got caught bushwhacking through the pesky prickly native bush. My arms and legs were all scratched up from nature lashing out at me again! Goly gee! Feeling a bit distressed, I reminded myself to take a breather and use the river as my guide. Intelligibly, I also utilized the GPS on my phone, and found the trail again after fifteen minutes or so. Bouncing back and forth alongside the river, I questioned the the necessity of so many river crossings. Most of the time, I tactfully made my own track, and trotted down the trail directly downstream- swiftly hoping over boulders and obstacles in the way. After the "big" river crossing, I met up with Dyl and Max, a friendly German guy, and we continued along the old somber gravel road for the rest of the way. Although the track today failed to offer us the most exquisite views, the thoughtlessness and simplicity of the track made the trail quite pleasurable. As we passed through the final farm gate, it amazed me that we had already reached Harper Road. From there, it was about 1km to Harper Village. The 18kms took us about 4 hours, including getting sidetracked a bit. When we arrived at the village, we waited patiently for Rowan, expecting him to already be there. We had discussed all hitching together to Methven to resupply and to detour around the Rakaia river, which is nonsensically part of the TA. After about 20 minutes or so, there was no sign of Rowan, and we figured he already started walking or got a ride. Shortly after, an older kiwi gentleman in a decked out camouflage jumpsuit picked us up in the classic oversized redneck SUV type vehicle. As we hopped in the car, the man noticed our American accents and sullenly said to us "if you didn't vote for Trump, you can get the F out of my car." Lolz. Dyl and I were terrified and uncertain if he was serious, so we nonchalantly chuckled and were grateful for the ride. The guy also asked Dyl if he was part of ISIS and questioned him putting bombs in his car. Haha- we will never nor ever know if he was being sincere or not! At least hitchhiking always makes for a comical story! Anywho, the racist kiwi dude dropped us off 10kms down the road. Dyl and I then decided it was the best time of the day (or one of the best times of the day) LUNCHHH TIMMMEEE! As we devoured our "tortunas", tuna and tortilla wraps, we calmly sat on side of the rode praying for a car to come. Suddenly, in the distance, we spotted a chunky yellow campervan coming towards us. The car promptly pulled over, and the awfully kind German boys offered to give us a ride to Methven, which was out of their way and 50kms from our location. When we reached Methven, Rowan had messaged us saying he was there. Yay! So, we reunited with him, and did the usual thing we do when we get into towns- cafe take over!! As we sipped our coffees, we did some imperative planning for the next sections to come. We also took turns monotonously resupplying at the Foursquare in town. Of course, I also bought the average mince and cheese pie and delightfully gobbled it down! It would be so uncultured of me to go into town and not purchase a traditional New Zealand cuisine. ;)! Incredibly enough, the American boys and Pea also made it to Methven! They convinced us to buy some bargained bag wine and chill out for the night. I mean, let's be real, we don't need that much persuading to have a drink or five. So, we then all contrived a plan to meet at the free campsite in Mt Somners, which was 10kms outside of Methven. Coincidentally enough, the German boys were also heading to that campsite, and agreed to give us a lift. Luzie traveled from Arthur's pass and was planning on meeting us in Mt Somners as well! Once we arrived, we soon found out that the campsite was only designated for self-contained vehicles, but, we pitched our tents anyway and made ourselves feel right at home. Per usual. Then, Rowan, Luzie, Dylan, and I cooked a scrumptiously fresh dinner together and goofed around while slapping the bag. Momentarily, the Americans and Pea showed up, and we all enjoyed our bags of goon and chillin out! They also introduced me to a Tim Tam Slam, which is where you bite off a piece of a Tim Tam and then sip hot chocolate from the cookie- so yummy! I said this while we were on the North Island, and I'll say it again, I wonder if other TA walkers have similar experiences during their thruhike? #doingthingsright! (18kms + hitching)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 23 Back At It-Bealey Hut to Hamilton Hut

February 1st, 2017 Holy moly it's February! Where has the time gone!? Maybe it's flown by so fast because we've taken like seven zero days. Lolz. After our pathetic "hike" yesterday, the boys and I were ready to get back on the trail. Luzie hesitantly decided to stay back, and allow her legs to rest a bit longer. Her shin splints and swollen ankles were extremely agitating, and we all knew the only cure was rest. We wanted her to join us for the next section, and I know she did too, but sometimes you just have to listen to what your body needs! So, Rowan, Dyl, and I set off through the harsh torrential downpours, climbing 500m up through the dense forest. Even though we were drenched and a bit chilly, it felt superb to move again. Near the top, the trail traverses and rides along the side of Mt Bruce. For this part of the track, we were highly exposed above tree line and in the midst of tussock country, searching for the next trail marker as we tramped a long. Luckily, the clouds cleared away, and there were spectacular views of the Arthur's Pass region and the enormous braided rivers below. Soon after, we dropped back down through the thick beech forest, following the beaten path towards the sounds of the raging river below. To our surprise, the sun also popped out, and the day ended up providing us with perfect hiking weather! As we were descending, the Lagoon Saddle A frame shelter came into view. The "shelter" was a precious little hut, offering only a small amount of space, and a toilet. Here, is where we met Axel, the jolliest goofiest German SOBO dude you'll ever meet. Oh, and he has the chilliest straw hat that he wears while hiking. Of course, every time we arrive at a new hut, a snack break is in order. I enjoyed a few handfuls of tasty almonds and a muesli bar. The boys and I then continued our descent along the well formed path, allowing the orange triangles and the Harper river to be our guide. FYI-the track unnecessarily crosses back and forth over the river numerous times- seeming like a common theme for the TA. As I was daydreaming, I suddenly realized the boys were no longer in sight, and I enjoyed cruising by myself and jammin to la musica. Momentarily, I caught up with Dylan and we stopped at the West Harper Hut for lunch. The hut was built in 1957, has 6 canvas bunks, and a dirt floor. You could say it remains a bit "tired", a term that the DOC repetitively uses. There were also sandflies galore, but if shelter is necessary, then it would serve its purpose! From West Harper Hut, it was only 4.5 kms to Hamilton Hut. The track was quite pleasant, winding along the river bank, including the occasional boulder hoping. Even repetitively going up and down didn't bother me on this gorgeous day! After crossing the Harper river via a swing bridge, the trail continues on the true left side of the river. As I strolled along, the colorful wild flowers, chirping birds, and sweet sounds of the river flowing stimulated my senses. After a km or so, I came across another bridge, over Hamilton creek, spotting a sign for Hamilton Hut. As I took a hard left towards the hut, it was only a short walk from the sign. Hamilton Hut was one of the most luxurious huts we've stayed in- offering an abundance of bunks, a wood burning stove, a rain water tank, a toilet, and a prime location near the river. It felt like more of a holiday cabin then a hut, and even had a wrap around porch! Oh, and the game Cards Against Humanity! Shaboigan. Rowan, Dyl, and I arrived at the hut around 3pm, took a whiff of ourselves, and decided to lather in the nearby river. Ya gotta do whatcha gotta do when you live in the bush! The other American boys and Pea showed up, and unexpectedly ended up staying at the hut also. They were good company, and we spent the rest of the afternoon conversing and joking around with them. Axel eventually made it to the hut as well. We all hung out for the night, exchanging stories and laughter, and even chose to play Cards Against Humanity! It was such a treat that someone left the game at the hut, and us Omuricans enjoyed explaining the USA culture to the two Germans. Good times! (15kms)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 22 Chillin All Day Erryday-Darfield to Bealey Hut

January 31st 2017 To ensure no one freaked out about us camping at the dog park, the alarms were set extra early, and we were all packed up by 7am. Of course food was the imminent goal on our minds, so we headed to the bakery for pies and to charge our shiz. It's never too early for a nice mince and cheese! Actually, the Aussie guy we hitched with yesterday suggested that the Darfield Bakery had the best pies in all of NZ, and as per his advice, we had to give em a try. Pies are ALWAYS a good decision, especially from a real bakery and not the sketchy Asian run ones! After our "feed", Luzie and I relaxed a bit and stayed distracted on our phones, while the boys went to the post office to send food boxes ahead. We all had extra/ an abundance of food after not doing the Boyle to Arthur's pass section. However, I was being frugal, not wanting to spend precious green papers on a package, and figured I'd sole the problem by indulging extra everyday! Oh yeah! After being inactive the previous day, the jitters ran over me and was feeling ready to make moves. I'm sure the coffee helped with the amp up! Hehe. Around 930am, we were on our way to Arthur's Pass. We attempted hitching with all four of us, and luckily got a ride with a caring kiwi woman named Jo. She offered to give us a lift to a "better" hitching location. Certainly, we were down! Then, a middle aged kiwi named Whitney, with a precious whittle baby girl, picked us up and gave us a ride to Springvale. We all squished in the car like sardines, but were happy to be getting one step closer to our destination. From Springvale, good ol' Charlie from the Czech Republic gave us a lift all the way to Arthur's pass. It was miraculous all four of us were able to hitch the whole way to Arthur's pass together! Upon arrival, we collected our resupply packages. Dyl and I had sent ours to The Sanctuary, where the guy Dave will hold your parcel for $20 and it guarantees you a free tent site. He was an easy going fellow and ecstatic about future plans for the TA. I would highly suggest sending a package ahead to Arthur's pass because the "store" there was way overpriced! After gathering our food, we enjoyed some more food aka lunch at the info center. Our lives tend to revolve around our next meal- the animal in me doesn't feel guilty though. FYI, there isn't much in Arthurs Pass besides a cafe/small store/gas station all in one, and then a few accommodation options. We contemplated doing Avalanche Peak, the famous hike in Arthur's pass, but the weather wasn't too ideal. So, we tried to hitch the 15kms to Cora Lynn Road, where the trail head began for the next section. Luzie got a solo lift first, then Dyl with a stereotypical Asian family, then me with a cute Dutch boy. I also won a rock paper scissor off with an American guy for the prime hitching spot. Oh cheyah! We then "tramped" the overly strenuous .6 kms to Bealey Hut. The hut was a basic, older model, with 6 beds and a dodgey toilet. The most important attribute was that it provided us shelter from the rain! Originally we planned on trekking on, but Luzie's legs were hurting, we were all lazy after waking up so early, AND it was raining galore. Thus, the consensus from the crew was to stay at Bealey hut for the night. We're really good at coming up with excuses, haha. I'm actually starting to worry if we're real hikers or not. But for now, we'll just keep on keeping on, just like my mama would tell me to do. Claire was at the hut when we got there, an English well experienced thru-hiker, who was heading NOBO. We chatted with her a bit and received the down low on the track ahead. The two silly man-bunned Americans, Dakota and Brandon (the one I beat at rock paper scissors), and a soft spoken German girl came by the hut for lunch also. They were super friendly and easy to relate to! After a really challenging .6kms, HA, Rowan, Luzie, Dylan, and I ended up taking an afternoon snooze, and relaxed real hard for a few hours. In the evening, we continued hanging out at the quaint little hut, devouring endless amounts of grub, playing card games, planning for the trail, and chatting about la vida loca! (.6kms)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 21 Camping in Dog Parks-Zero day in Hanmer Springs and hitch to Darfield

January 30th, 2017 What goes on!? The amount of rain we've had in the last few weeks has been ridiculous! It's almost as much as we had the first few weeks on the North Island. The kiwis keep saying this isn't normal for summertime, but I'm starting to feel a bit skeptical ;)! In order to make certain the next section was doable, we inquired at the education center about the weather. Sadly, the man in charge was pretty clueless- seeming not too sure about anything really. So, we unexpectedly hitched the 55kms to Hamner Springs to check out what was really going on with the forecast, and the conditions for the Boyle Village to Arthur's Pass section. We had heard through the grapevine that the next track was in bad shape due to slips in the trail and over-flooding, but we wanted to hear from a reliable source. Miraculously enough, the four of us got a ride with a chill Maori guy, who delivers newspapers nearly everyday from Christchurch all the way to Nelson. What a unique job! It was a bit dodgey just sitting in the back of the large white rapey looking van without seats or seat belts, packing us in like sardines, and then him offering us candy- oh, the irony! But, a ride is a ride when it comes down to it! Once we got to Hamner Springs, we immediately sought out our staple meat pies and coffee. As per suggestion from a friendly police officer, we headed towards the one and only bakery in town. My large flat white was heavenly and the mince and cheese pie extra dericioussss! #piesondeck. After our scrumptious meal, we spent the morning drying out our wet belongings and charging our electronics at the library. Dyl had also called up the DOC center in Arthur's Pass, and they said the next section had been damaged as a result of recent storms, and wouldn't advise entering that section of the trail. This unfortunate news left us feeling frustrated and powerless. As a team, we contemplated our options. On the one hand, we wanted to stay safe, enjoy hiking and not force ourselves to tramp along a poor conditioned track, and/or wait out the bad weather in town (which we already experienced in Nelson). And on the other hand, we didn't want to skip a five day section, and/or leave Hamish hanging in the dust, who had already headed to the trail head. We also debated going into the section, and if the track was too unbearable, backtracking out. However, no one likes turning back once you've already gone forward. After much deliberation, hours in fact, we decided to skip the section and hitch to Arthur's Pass to start the next part of the trail. Although we were pretty bummed about missing a whole section, including the infamous Harpers pass, we've had plenty of experience with the uncontrollable weather, and didn't wanna put ourselves in a dangerous situation. Just as importantly on our minds though was Hamish. Last we spoke to him we agreed to meet at the first hut, and we felt guilty ditching him and worried about his safety. It was difficult to deviate from the plan/trail, but we tried staying optimistic, and figured Hamish was independent enough to handle himself. Before leaving Hamner Springs though, our mission was to get ahold of the cheapest, greasiest cheeseburgers and fries, from the most Asian takeaway place we could find. And then, ravenously consume all of it! Our incentive being that we'd be back in the woods for awhile, and away from "real" food. Once our tummies were full beyond belief, only then, was it time to start our next adventure. Rowan and I paired up to create the ultimate hitching team. Our first ride was from a nurse who specialized in treating young babies. It was interesting hearing about her job and the at home work she offers. Twas also quite comical that there were pictures of babies on the outside of his car, and dirty nomadic looking Rowan and I just hanging in the backseat. Haha. You never know who's gonna pick you up! Our second ride was from a generous middle aged kiwi man who worked in irrigation. He was a bit quirky but shared some good local knowledge with us, and went out of his way to drive us towards Christchurch. The third ride was from a young kiwi girl, about our age, with bright green hair, who worked for Wicked Campers. She was testing out the alignment and steering on the van that she picked us up in. As she was driving reckless all over the road, it was nerve racking and we feared for our lives a bit, but at least we made it about 10kms further to our destination! Lastly, after not getting a ride for awhile, an Aussie "bloake" came to our rescue. He brought us 20kms or so to Darfield, which was where Dyl and Luzie were. At this point it was about 8pm, and we were still an hour plus away from Arthur's Pass. So, we made the smart decision to call it quits, and had a legendary night in the Darfield dog park. Lolz. I think it's safe to say we looked like homeless lunatics, but we did our thang anyway- cooking a yummy dinner at the main picnic table, and sketchily freedom camping right in the middle of the park. Dyl and I admitted to teaching Luzie and Rowan the DB ways of life. Good times y'all!

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 20 Making it Back to Civilization-Anne Hut to DOC Campsite Boyle Village

January 29th, 2017 After our longest and most challenging day on the South Island so far, we slept in a little extra and let our bodies rejuvenate. Most mornings, our alarms are set for 7am, but today was special, and we allowed ourselves a whole extra hour to sleep in! Wahoo! When the 8am menacing alarm clock rang in my ear, I lethargically got out of bed and started my morning routine. While we indulged in breakfast, Hamish, Dylan, and I enjoyed flipping through the hut's hunting magazines, admiring the strange racist advertisements and redneck hunters. Dyl also used the hut radio to contact the Arthur's pass DOC center to "find out" about the upcoming forecast. It was kind of unnecessary because we were going to hike out no matter what, but Dyl put on a silly southern accent and we all had a good laugh. The jokes didn't last long though, as it was another big day for us. Our plan was to trek the remaining 30ish kms out of the bush to Boyle Village. Around 930am, I was the first one to set off on our next expedition- frolicking amongst tranquil meadows, while diverting high swampy grass and minor stream crossings. The track markers were a bit hard to locate at times. As a safety measure, I always double check the GPS on my phone if I feel like I've gone off trail. As I followed the Anne river from the hut, and then a creek mostly the whole way to the saddle, tramping was relatively effortless with not much elevation change. Once again, the scenery along the trail never seizes to amaze me! The massive mountains on either side of the valley seemed so overbearing and powerful. I took a good fifteen minute break just to gaze at their astonishing beauty- while simultaneously paying extra close attention to the wide open fields filled with yellow dainty wild flowers. Flowers are obviously my fave :)! After about 7kms of my pleasant solo trek, I noticed a sign for Anne Saddle (1136m). The gradual climb from the sign to the top of the saddle was a lot easier then I thought it would be. Since arriving first, I patiently waited for Dyl and Hamish at the top, while hydrating and having a quick nourishing snack break. Once the boys caught up, we headed back down hill to the river valley, letting gravity take a hold as we ran, avoiding rocks and tree roots in the way. A good run always helps relieve hidden stress and anxiety, and reminds me how priviledged I am to have two fully functioning legs! A few kms later, we stopped by Rokeby Hut, just to check it out. As the trail notes mention, it's a basic, older bivvy with only three canvas bunks, and no water or toilet. We had originally discussed having lunch there, but it felt crammed and musty inside, so, we kept on tramping until the next hut! Listening to podcasts and music helped the kms go by faster, and about 4kms later, we saw a sign for Boyle Flat Hut. We then crossed the sweet swing bridge to access the hut. Unlike the Rokeby hut, Boyle Flat was surprisingly modern, cozy, and spacious. Dyl, Hamish, and I then devoured our dank tuna lunches, and heated up some hot water for a hit of caffeinated tea. I really don't think I could get sick of these delectable tuna packets! The tuna has such a good mix of flavors, and a variety of types. You gots to try some! Everyone on the TA knows what's goodie wit da tuners! Cheyah. From Anne Hut to Boyle Flat Hut it was 16.5 kms, and from Boyle Flat hut to Boyle Village it was about 12 kms. Thus, we had already walked over half way for the day! The trail notes are noticeably incorrect about kms FYI. Dyl and I always count the kms using the topo maps, just so we really know what's going on! Leaving the hut back over the swing bridge, we sidled along the river on the "true" left, as the trail notes exclaim, then continued across mundane fields of over grown grass. As we entered the bush, there were the usual slippery mud sections and obstructive roots we had to jump over, that I always make a fun game out of! The track itself was straightforward as we meandered along the "beaten" path. Our feet stayed wet most of the day- splashing through small streams and creeks galore. There were also a few picturesque swing bridges the trail passed over, the last one bringing you over the Boyle River, and only a few kms away from Boyle Village. As I launched myself off of a rock, I heard a solid crack, and ended up breaking off the tip of my trekking pole! I was NAHT a happy camper, and it kinda put a damper on the rest of the tramp. It was my own fault though, and I felt foolish for being so aggressive with my poles! Granted, they were only $20 from Cosco, but they work sooo great doeee! Shout out to our sponsor Symula for giving Dyl and I the bestest trekking poles, otherwise we would be too broke to afford any haha. Anyway, when I finally arrived at the Boyle Outdoor Education Center, Dylan and Rowan were waiting for me! We were both overjoyed to see Rowan's cheery face again! By the way, the Boyle "village" wasn't actually a village, and the only thing there is the education center. Dyl and I were hoping that there would at least be a small store in the "village" that sold the quintessential meat pies- feeling unruly disappointed when we found out otherwise! That being said, I thought the word village was a bit misleading, however, its convenient that you can send a box to the education center and they'll hold your parcel for just $10. Rowan, Dyl, and I retrieved our resupply boxes, and sorted out our food a wee bit. We decided to camp at the DOC Campsite adjacent to the education center and right at the end of the trail. This way, if any of our fellow amigos made it out of the bush, they'll see our tents all setup! Hamish eventually showed up, and we all had dinner under the shelter next to the education center. We probably weren't supposed to be occupying this area, oops! The rain continued to trickle down, yet we didn't let that stop us from having fun, and made a fire in the stone hearth. It was enjoyable catching up with Rowan, as we all conversed and joked around by the obnoxiously big fire. Luzie ended up escaping the bush and telling us that her and Adam got lost again. They ended up walking 12 extra kms in the wrong direction, and then getting to the wrong hut! Oh boy! After socializing with the gang a bit, we all climbed into our individual tents, and did some reading before passing out. Although it felt weird sleeping in a tent after not doing so for so long, I slept well knowing it was another day we absolutely crushed! Throw it in the bag! (28.5km)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 19 Long a$$ day- Blue Lake hut to Anne Hut

January 28th 2017

What a delightful morning! As I got ready and conversed with the other TA trampers, I felt overly enthusiastic to start the day. We had an ambitious day ahead of us, aiming to hike 42kms to Anne Hut. Gee wilikers. The reason being, Anne Hut was the next fully serviced hut after Blue Lake Hut. We also had to make up for our unplanned zero day. I tried to remind myself I’m capable of anything I put my mind to, because 42 sounds like an absurd number of kilometers!? I was the last one to leave the hut besides Dyl, and crushed the first section, passing the majestic Blue Lake, and heading up hill through the forest. At the top of the hill, I reached Lake Constance. Wow, what a sensational view! Nature is truly remarkable- noticing dazzling tributaries and picturesque waterfalls as I tramped along as well. The glorious landscape made me the jolliest girl in the world, and served as a good reminder as to why I’m hiking the TA! After a short while, I caught up to Warrick and chatted with him a bit. We traveled up the scree together, until it came to a point where it levels off and you walk along side the mountain. It’s always inspiring seeing Warwick out here on the trail, and made me realize that I shouldn’t lament about my own aches and pains! That legend truly crushes the trail! After a bit, we ran into the U.K. Girls, Adam, and Hamish, and we all tramped together alongside the lake. I accidentally fell at one point, the awful spanish grass scratching my arm and legs up pretty good! Rawrrrrr. Similar to the North Island bush, the plants were grappling with me again! Thankfully, I was feeling well rested though, and ready to take on the day! As we followed along Lake Constance, the scenery was some of the most captivating that we’ve seen on the whole TA! We continued our quest through the valley, to the start of the Waiau pass. Dyl and Luzie caught up, and we all relished in a snack break before climbing uphill. The scree was fairly loose, and the track was a bit hard to follow. I was also remaining extra cautious not to slip and fall down the 1000 plus meters below me! However, getting up the mountain safely was the main goal, and as long as that’s achieved, then we’ve conquered the main objective! Wahooo! Lake Constance was visible the whole trek up the mountain, and the summit offered us phenomenal 360 degree views as well. When we got to the top, there was a bit of cell phone service, and I was able to message Rowan about plans for the next section. Certainly, a snickers break and sweet D-pics were also in order! We eventually headed down the mountain side, scrambling over large rocks, and sliding down steep slippery mud. I was as agile as a mountain goat and found the descent overtly exhilarating! The landscape was so beautifully overwhelming at one point that I could feel my mama dukes with me and I started to tear up. She stayed with me the rest of the day, and helped me carry on through the agonizing endless kms. It was especially ironic we were heading towards Anne Hut, which was my mamas middle name. Eventually, I passed Johannes, the Older German dude, and other TAers, cruising all the way down the mountain until I met the Waiau river. After going way ahead of the rest of the gang, I was a bit worried that everyone was ok. As I tramped along, feeling the sweat excrete from my exhausted body, the track was a mixture of rocks, stream crossings, and a well formed bush track. Hopping over rocks can be a bit tiresome, having to remain cognizant of each step and every move you make, and I always happen to twist my ankles! So, I took a ten minute breather to regain my strength and have a water break. The sun was also a blazing, and I could feel the beginning of a sunburn. Yet, I was thankful for the blue bird skies! Eventually, Hamish caught up to me, and him and I walked the rest of the way to the Caroline Creek Bivy together. It was 12kms from Blue Lake Hut to the Bivy, following the raging river mostly the whole way. For lunch, I had a delicious sun-dried tomato and salmon tapenade wrap, and another snickers. Hamish and I then waited for the others to join us for about an hour! The Bivy was a real simplistic hut with only two bunks and no toilet or water. It doesn’t look like the most comfortable place to stay, but if the weather was bad I suppose it would be a good shelter! From the Bivy, the 30kms to Anne Hut was fairly simple, passing many grassy flats, swamps, meadows, and a bit of classic NZ native bush. I enjoyed frolicking through the easy terrain, taking notice to the blooming flowers, diverse plant life, colorful butterflies, and chirping birds! There were lots of camping opportunities along the way, but we were determined to get all the way to Anne hut. Hamish and I pushed along, taking a tactical snack break every few hours. Dyl momentarily caught up to us, and we all walked the remaining 15kms to the hut together. There were definitely some sketchy river crossings, one in particular right before the trail veers right towards the hut. Also, the track was a bit ambiguous some of the time, and there were a few other trails that intersected with the TA track, making easy to get sidetracked. The last 5kms or so was on an old gravel road though, and super simple to follow. We were also hitting almost 6kms an hour. Cheyah. After we crossed the dodgey swingbridge, it was only a few more kms to Anne Hut! We can do it! When we finally arrived, there were a few new non TA people we chatted with! Having not seen Adam and Luzie for 30kms though, we were worried about them and hoped they were safe! Using the word “knackered”, as the kiwis say, would be an understatement. Hamish even fell asleep while in the middle of eating his pasta. Lolz. As soon as I laid down I was out. Though, in the middle of the night, I went outside to use the toilet, and saw the brightest shooting star I’ve ever seen! I could feel it was my mama up in heaven reminding me she’s okay and sending me some extra love :)! (42kms)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 18 Another day on the TA, another zero day in a hut!

January 27th, 2017 Are we actually even hikers? I'm really starting to wonder. If the weather is adverse, then I guess we've decided we can't hike. Haha. In contrast, on the North Island, we used to hike everyday in the rain. But today, because it was raining, was another zero day for the books. Although, there were logical reasons for our decision. One, it did happen to down pour throughout the night and early morning, leaving us concerned about the rivers being too high. And we all know DOC says no crossings rivers after 11am. Two, we were worried about safely making it over Waiau pass in such severe weather. Not that I'm pointing any fingers, but everyone else in the hut made the call to stay put first. And, Dyl and I would never complain about having some downtime in the hut, so, we also played it safe by not crossing over the pass and/or risk going out in the variable NZ weather. We figured the visibility would be poor as well, and wanted to ensure we headed over the pass when the skies were clear and there would be guaranteed views of the surrounding landscape. Zero days are always fine by me- I amused myself by catching up on the ol' blog, getting some logistical planning done, and chatting with our new tramper "mates". Dyl, Luzie, and I also went for a dip in the Blue Lake, which is the clearest lake in the world!? Reason being, there are glacial particles that make there way down from the top of the peaks into the pristine lake water. Definitely a sight to see and quite impressive! Swimming in the lake is probably frowned upon, but of course, we do what we want. YOLO. I also led an afternoon yoga sesh, and it was good practice making adjustments and teaching again. Sitting around the hut all day, also leads to over indulgence of everything and anything edible. Unlike the Richmond range, where we had to ration our supplies, we had more then enough food to last us until the end of this section, plus some extra. #foodislife. Seriously. Surprisingly, Warwick ended up getting to the hut, and some others TA goers that we met from previous occasions as well! The 16 bunk hut was filled, and it was a hut party to the max! Bow chica wow wowww! (0kms)

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Day 17 Start being real hikers-Upper Travers hut to Blue Lake hut

January 26th, 2017 Unfortunately, I didn't sleep too well, but was eager to get a move on and actually hike, especially because the sun was shining and we were doing some intense tramping today! It was time to start being real hikers again. We said our goodbyes to James, who had to go back to St Arnaud, and Dyl, Luzie, Adam, and I embarked on our new adventure. Our plan was to trek from Upper Travers hut to West Sabine, which was 8kms, and take a lunch break there. After we left Upper Travers hut, there was a small wooden bridge to cross, and then immediately after, the track started the big ascent. We followed the orange tipped poles, working our way up to the top of the saddle. Adam and I climbed up the mountain together, finding comfort in each other's company and support. The steady steep ascent was 450m to the top of Travers saddle (1787m)- side note, the word "steep" doesn't even do it justice. We had to be cautious as there were several sections of sketchy rocks to scramble over, and loose scree to avoid. When we reached the top, Adam and I treated ourselves to snickers and moro gold bars. Yum! The semi snow capped peaks looked so majestic in the distance and swallowed up the rest of the images in sight. After the top of the saddle, the track went steeply down scree, until reaching the tree line. The track then heads through the dense bush, and continues steeply descending through wet slippery mud. I carelessly fell on my bum quite a few times, but that's part of the fun! The dark ominous clouds were coming in fast, and contributed to all of us feeling a bit worrisome. I went into cruise control, hustling down the hill, trying not to break an ankle or slip on the mud. While doing so, I passed a few other TA hikers along the way, but was too focused to stop and say hello. When you intersect the river, veer left, and the West Sabine hut is a short walk from the junction. The trail notes said the track would take six hours, but it took Dyl and I only three. Swag. We took a necessary lunch break at West Sabine hut, it also allowed time for Luzie and Adam to catch up. Then, it was 7kms to Blue lake hut, which is just passed km mark 1990- almost at 2000 kms! Dyl and I left the hut first, crossing the swing bridge, and turning immediately left. We followed the river upstream most of the way, enjoying the serene views and diverse wildlife- amazed that nature can conjure up such beauty. It felt like we were in the center of the most exquisite wonderland. The whole time, uncontrollably smiling from ear to ear. We also appreciated the actual remoteness and serenity of having the precious landscape all to ourselves. Dyl and I concurred it was the highlight of the TA for us thus far! The last 100m or so to get to the hut was a steep climb through bush, yet, oddly enough, my peaceful state of mind even enjoyed the uphill section! It took us only 3 hours to reach Blue Lake hut, which we got to around 230pm, just in time for the rain to start. So, that's 15 kms total for the day in 6 hours- not too shabby. We chilled at the hut with a few charming English girls, Francis and Caroline, Hamish, a 19 year old coy young kiwi doing the TA, and a few other fellow trampers. Adam showed up about an hour after Dyl and I. We all did some relaxing and munching out, happy to be out of the rain and volatile weather. Caroline also led a relaxing yoga sesh for the 7 or so of us at the hut. Stretching rules! We were worried about Luzie though and nervous she was lost or got swept away by the high rivers. As it was getting late, we tried to stay positive and hoped she would make it there eventually. In the evening, we cooked an awesome pasta dinner, and had our ritualistic tea and snickers for dessert. The simple things, like a good hearty meal, are so imperative on the trail. I can't express it enough! Around 830pm, Luzie finally showed up! We were relieved and happy she was safe. Apparently, she had taken a wrong turn over the bridge, after the West Sabine hut, and ended up walking 8kms in the wrong direction. So, then, she had to turn back around, and ended up walking 16kms in total just for "fun". Gee wilikers! We felt bad for her and assisted her in getting off her feet! After we were settled into our toasty sleeping bags, I ended the day contently reading and listening to the sweet sounds of rain pidder pattering on the roof above me. (15 km)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 16 Are we even real hikers? John Tait Hut to Upper Travers Hut

January 25th, 2017 Although we had an extensive night sleep, I was still feeling a bit groggy from drinking Monday night. Sometimes, after a heavy night of drinking, you feel even worse two days later. Twas also raining galore, which added to my list of excuses that prolonged me getting out of bed. I don't think anyone in their right mind would prefer a rainy cold hike to a pleasantly warm cozy sleeping bag! Yet, I knew the show must go on. Otherwise, Dyldo would rightfully give me lip for being a lazy bum. The track from John Tait hut to Upper Travers runs up through a valley, proceeding in and out of the bush, and over several streams. The trail itself wasn't difficult, but as I mentioned, I was feeling physically sluggish and mentally slow. Not the best combo. And, as a result, hiking felt more tedious than usual. At one point, James and I got sidetracked/disoriented, and happened to unintentionally detour to Travers falls. It ended up being a good thing though, as the falls were a surprisingly pleasant sight, and only a few minutes off trail. We continued along, absentmindedly strolling through the flourishing damp forest, trying to stay motivated to get to the next hut. The torrential rains didn't help my situation though, as I was uncomfortable, frigid, and drenched from head to toe! Towards the end of the track, we approached a large flat field, and walked through the swampy high grass to reach the hut. When we finally arrived, we collaborated as a group, and made the decision to stay there for the night. I just realized though, that we only ended up hiking 6.7 kms to Upper Travers hut. What's wrong with us? Are we even doing the TA anymore? Lolz. As long as we're enjoying ourselves- that's what really counts, not the number of kilometers. Our new home for the night was modern, spacious, and in a great location- in the middle of a valley, surrounded by ginormous mountains towering over us! It was relatively early when we got to the hut, around midday, so we just hung out and relaxed for most of the afternoon. Binge drinking on Monday was definitely still catching up with me, and I was feeling a bit introverted. After a few hours passed by, the sun came out, and we took a joyous stroll down to the river to spend some time outside. The weather ended up being so perfect that it made me feel guilty we weren't hiking. Oh well. I was more content frolicking in the outdoors with no intentions anyway, just simply taking in the astonishing scenery and bright blue skies above! When we returned to the hut, Adam had arrived, and we were super stoked to see our kiwi friend! All of us then had our traditional evening meals, played some interesting German card games, and chilled out for the rest of the night. We did get yelled at for being boisterous children, and decided it was best to stay civil and go into our "own" room to hang out. Sorry we thrive on having fun! Aderrrrppp! (6.7kms)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 15 Hungover hiking-Lakehead Hut to John Tait Hut

January 24th, 2017 Clearly, we were bound to have a late start- being hungover and staying up real late never leaves ya feeling energized the next morning! No regrets though because it was a grandy dandy time! Also, note to self, "no doze" are not the answer. Ever. I didn't feel right for days after, but, I'll keep it censored at that. Anywho, Dyl and Luzie were up earlier and went ahead to the next hut, while James and I lethargically packed up the tent and completed the traditional morning routine. Eventually, we made way, maneuvering over streams, and zig zagging in and out of the scenic valley of Nelson Lakes national park. My jaded body struggled as we tramped along, but I enjoyed being in the great outdoors and the relatively easy hike through the meadows. The kms also went by quickly as James and I were swapping perverse stories, and staying entertained by sketchy swing bridges and helicopters passing by overhead. From our campsite right outside Lakehead hut to John Tait hut was 14kms, even though the trail notes incorrectly state 12kms. We eventually caught up with Dyl and Luzie, after those two goofballs got a wee bit lost, and we all trekked on through the bush together. As advised by the DOC office, the weather looked like it was going to turn, at least the lazy part of me hoped so, and we called it a quits at John Tait hut. Lots of other trampers came along and planned on sleeping at JT hut as well. Again, although I appreciate meeting new people, the TA is starting to feel a bit too congested for me. The North island had way more of a remote feel to it, which is ironic because we were usually closer to civilization. The good news was that we had tons of food and could feast as much as we wanted! Rowan traded us his bounce box he had sent to St Arnaud, and we ravenously shoved as much of it into our mouths as we could handle. Why? Certainly not out of hunger, but in order to lighten our packs. That being said, I was as stuffed as a T-giving turkey for the first few days of this section. Nom nom nom. After a refreshing river shower and delightful cup of lemon ginger tea, all of us did some reading and lounged around for the rest of the evening! (14 km)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 14 Bags of wine make hiking more fun-Nelson to Lakehead Hut

Monday January 23rd, 2017 Surprisingly, we woke up to a gorgeous day! The weather changes so quickly in NZ, and you really can't rely on the forecast. Oh well. Firstly, we did some last minute resupplying and planning in Nelson. I also took the longest hottest shower I'd taken in weeks, making sure to take full advantage of the opportunity- who knows the next time a "real" shower would happen in our nomadic lives. After checking out of the hostel and getting ready to make moves, we met Warwick and Keitha for a coffee, and briefly caught up with them! It's always heartwarming reconnecting with such beautiful shining souls. Dyl and I view them as our family members in NZ! Originally, we planned on hitching back to St Arnaud, but James decided to come with us last minute, and his compassionate mama Angela offered us a ride. Once we entered Nelson Lakes National Park, which was only a few minutes walk from the gas station in St Arnaud, the goon and cider came out of the packs, and we began to drink heavily. Classic Monday afternoon. FYI, goon is cheap boxed wine- the least expensive alcohol you can buy in all of New Zealand! That being said, we only "tramped" 9 kms to the first hut that day. The DOC sign says 11kms, but our topo maps said only 9kms. There we go again with the extreme inconsistency! Anywho, Dyl, James, Luzie, and I, meandered along Lake Rotoiti, slapping the bag, drunkingly chatting, and giggling like the little kiddos we are. Once we got to Lakehead hut, our friend Fred and his wife were there- what a coincidence! We ended up creating our own campsite outside the hut, being considerate of others and ensuring we weren't too loud for the trampers staying there. We did casually help ourselves to a few mattresses though, and used them inside our tents. Once a DB, always a DB. After a scrumptious macncheese dinner, thanks to Rowan, we gazed at the stars and had a grand ol' time around the roaring camp fire. If only we always carried bags of wine with us on the Te Araroa! (9km)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 13 Another classic zero day in Nelson

Sunday January 22nd, 2017 Certainly, we thought a zero day was in order. One, well, it was raining galore and didn't look like it was stopping anytime soon. Two, we wanted to take it easy before the next leg of our journey. Not to mention, we were pretty hungover, and hadn't slept much the night before. So, we had a lazy Sunday afternoon, moseying around Nelson, eating mediocre Thai food, and chilling out in our cozy beds. We definitely took advantage of being in town, and ate every opportunity we got. That's why we gain weight on a thru hike, even after tramping almost 2000kms!? #fatkidproblems. In the evening, we had a lovely family meal with the crew, creating the yummiest chicken bacon alfredo pasta and a fresh salad on the side. It was a pretty uneventful day, yet necessary to regain strength for the next adventure ahead!

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 12 Get us out of the woods-Porters Creek Hut to Nelson

January 21st, 2017 Eager to make it to civilization, all six of us, plus a new member we adopted, the BFG (big friendly giant, named Flo, a minimalist traveler TA French man), beelined through the last section of the Richmond Range. From Porters Creek hut to Red Hills was only 10.5 kms, which is remarkable that I say 10.5kms is "only" that far away nowadays. And then 5.5 kms from the hut to highway 63. Sixteen long kms standing between me and a precious pie. Flo and I chatted and exchanged laughs most of the time- making the track seem more pleasant. The beginning of this section runs parallel with the Motueka River, hiking over many slippery rocks, sticky mud, and obstructive debris. We were really hustling to get through the ubiquitous bush, feeling fearless and determined to escape the Richmond ranges. At one point, I took a running start to ignite my engine in an attempt to leap over a stream, and landed real hard right on my bum. Luzie, Flo, and I chuckled, and it reassured me that being wet and dirty is inevitable on the TA. Although the scenery and mountain ranges were captivating as a backdrop, my mind remained solely focused on a warm bed and real food. #getmeameatpie. From Red hills out to the highway the track was down an old gravel road and effortless to follow. As we kept on keeping on, the dark clouds above were creeping in, and looking a bit daunting. We didn't want to be trapped for another 3 days in a hut, so, we scampered through the trail as efficiently as possible, using my trekking poles as catapults to move quickly around the trees. When we successfully reached the highway, Flo and I schemed up walking to a decent hitching spot, and got a ride from a caring kiwi couple to St Arnaud (1945km). It was only 10kms or so. When we got into town, of course the first thing I did was devour an exquisite meat pie and a bubbly thirst quenching sprite. J*zz. I rarely drink soda, but sometimes you crave the strangest things on the trail. Dylan had gone ahead and we met him at the gas station in St Arnaud, which was also the convenient "store" and cafe in this quaint little mountain town. Dyl and I then grabbed our package that we had sent ahead to the Alpine Lodge. They'll hold a package for you for $10, so you don't have to pay the ridiculous prices to resupply at the Dairy. In heinz sight, we didn't need to send a package because we were heading to Nelson, but ya live and ya learn! Dyl had visited the DOC office, and the fellow there had said the weather wasn't looking good for a few days, and the rivers would probably be too high to cross. Gee wilikers, we could never risk crossing high rivers, especially after 11am?! As we've learned, the weather is so uncontrollable, and we didn't wanna jeopardize putting ourselves in a danger situation, so, consequently, we decided to head into Nelson with the rest of our friends. It was a bit tricky getting a hitch out of St Arnaud, taking almost 45 minutes to find a ride. It also started pouring, not to mention the sandflies were freakin annoying the heck out of us! Get me out of here! All we craved was an ice cold alcoholic beverage and a comfy place to relax and enjoy it. Unexpectedly, our good mate with a semi truck named Chris, with a long silver beard and chill marijuana socks, spotted us stranded on the side of the road and offered to drive us a bit out of town. What a good man! We instantly jumped in his big 18 wheeler and felt like the kings of the road. After being in his truck for only 5 minutes, Chris just happens to rear end a small car in front of us, shattering their back window. Dyl and I sat in the truck smooshed, stunned, and speechless. Never a dull moment. Also, feeling quite sorry for Chris. He was just trying to do us a favor and spread some good karma and has to deal with that headache. Geez. Half hour or so later, we got dropped off near highway 6. We thanked Chris and gave him some endearing hugs to show how grateful we were. Somehow, moments later, Luzie and Destiny miraculously get dropped off right next to us on the side of the highway! All four of us then hitched in a sketchy white rape van to Nelson together. We decided to live in luxury and stayed at the Bridge Street Backpackers for the night, which was only $20 for a dorm bed. Can't beat dat! We also treated ourselves to Stefanos for dinner, and had delicious pizza and the essential beer. Best pizza I've had in New Zealand! If we're in town, of course we have to slay down some adult beverages as well, so we bought a few 6 packs to bring back to the hostel, and played actual drinking games. One thing led to another, and we ended up going out in the "city" of Nelson. Exhibit A why Dyl and I shouldn't be allowed into towns- all we do is eat greasy food, drink heaps of alcohol, and turn into lazy pieces of sh*t. On a positive note, at least we always have a legendary time, and keep it real realllll! (16kms + long hitch to St Arnaud and then Nelson)

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 11 Time to make moves-Top Wairoa Hut to Porters Creek Hut

January 20th, 2017 After two days of sitting on our buttocks, the gang was feeling rejuvenated and ready to boogie. As Destiny said, "it's been fun, but it's time to go." So, we did just that. After packing up our belongings, which had been scattered around our humble abode for 3 days, we got a move on bright and early. Luckily, the weather was on our side, and there wasn't a rain cloud in the sky that could "force" us to stay another day. From Top Wairoa to the next hut, Hunters hut, was 10.5kms. As we set off, away from the hut, it felt bittersweet watching this small shack that evoked such a mix of emotions, get smaller and smaller, until it eventually vanished and was no longer in sight. I think I can speak for all of us when I say it was a memorable three nights and two days, that will be engraved in our memories for a long time to come. Corny, yet true. As a group, we followed the orange tipped poles and ascended towards the saddle (1374m). Hiking in a line made it seem as if we were Snow White and the seven dwarfs (Chester the dog being Snow White, of course)- all heading to somewhere of importance, yet unsure where or why really. As we returned to life on the trail, climbing over rocks, splashing through streams, and rummaging amongst the high grass, it all felt too familiar. Every step, still questioning why I'm STILL walking around aimlessly after three months. Having like minded people by your side definitely helps to remain motivated though. When we reached the top of the saddle, Mt Ellis was towering over us. It was the first time most of us had cell phone reception in awhile, so we all went back to hanging out with our phones, and not each other. Technology is so disconcerting sometimes. Looking up and seeing the mountainous landscape was beautiful though, and after a check in with my papajoe, I put my phone away and focused on encompassing the wilderness. When our brief Internet cafe session was done, we continued along an exposed ridge, and then sidled along the mountain for awhile, leading us to the highest point of the day! Eventually, we made our way back into the bush again, winding through the trees and loose rocks. Huffing and puffing along, feeling my sins secrete from my skin, I tried to remain distracted by the diverse scenery in the background. Once the track came to the Motueka river, we crossed it sketchily a few times (the time being after 11am), and then made the ascent towards Hunters Hut. When we arrived to the hut, the reserved French couple was there, and we quickly stopped in just to have a mosey around. The hut was fairly modern, with eight bunks, and all the necessary accoutrements. As we left Hunter Hut, feeling a bit sluggish, we decided to not lock in any final plans about where we would sleep that night. On the way to Porter's Creek, we experienced the typical up and down terrain of the TA, including plenty of rock scrambling, and several rudimentary stream crossings. Eventually, we arrived at an open field, where you come into view of the hut, and it's a straightforward path just a few kms to Porter Creek. We had enjoyed actually moving, and the beauty of such a tranquil hike, yet were pooped by the time we got to our new shelter. Originally, we had planned on reaching Red Hills hut (the last hut in the Richmond range), but decided it would be best to stay here, which also guaranteed us beds in the hut. James had gone ahead, and Porter Creek accommodates six, so it worked out perfectly and we all had our own beds. FYI, the trail notes said there wasn't a water source at Porter Creek but there was rain water and some streams near by! The trail notes can be so freakin misleading. It felt phenomenal to relax and just lounge around, talking a bit of BS and eating whatever food we had left. We were all running low on food after spending an extra 2 days in a hut- reason being, still unclear. However, we made do, and collaborated our food together to make sure no one starved. Some other TA walkers from the previous day joined us, and we all chilled out as we cooked dinner. Christof, simple, generous French guy, gave the gang a bunch of extra food he had. Of course, we gluttonously consumed the couscous, macncheese, noodles, and whatever else our ravenous stomachs could handle, and felt sick as dogs afterwards. We then luxuriously watched a movie on Destinys iPad, but I fell asleep during it because I was so shot. The struggle is reallll. Ciao ciao! (19.5kms)

[roseknows20-blog]

Days 5-10 Pelorus River Track, Richmond Range, and so much more!

Day 5 We make our own TA-Captain Creek Hut to Roebuck Hut January 14th, 2017 We set our alarms early so we could get the F away from the murderous sandflies! Actually, we didn't even have breakfast, brush our teeth, complete our morning duties, or change clothes. Gee wilikers. The sandflies are legit little man-eating menaces, and they're impossible to avoid! I swear the repellent doesn't even work!? Dyl and I even started the hike in our pjs. Not the most ideal way to start your day! And as a result of not having breakfast, I was also a bit of a hangry/cranky girly. I can't emphasize enough that your day is so much more pleasant when you can leisurely make the most of your morning. The good news was Middy Hut was only 5kms away, which was where we planned to stop and properly get ready for the day ahead. It wasn't a strenuous walk, but we were both eager, irritable, and wanted to get to the next hut ASAP. It took us about an hour and 15 minutes to get from the first to the second hut, and the trail notes said it would take 2 hours. We usually complete the sections in about two thirds of the time the trail notes/DOC suggest. Anywho, when we finally arrived at Middy Hut (small yet sufficient), we took a load off, had some yummy oatmeal/tea, and set aside time to complete our morning routine. Groups of other hikers came along, some TA, some just day hikers, so we also socialized with them for awhile. Rowan, a 25 year old jolly American from the great white North in Alaska, and who we briefly met at the first hut, decided to walk with us for the day. We were delighted to make a new friend and delve into interesting conversation topics! There's a sweet swing bridge that we crossed right after Middy hut, and then a steep climb until you reach a junction with a DOC sign that directs you to go left for Roebuck Hut, or right for Rocks Hut. The TA trail goes towards Rocks hut, but we decided to forgo the immensely steep ascent to Rocks Hut, and headed towards Roebuck instead. We figured that the trail to Roebuck Hut would be less exhausting, and only required a few more kms then the section to Rocks Hut. Bottom line is, we do what we want. It was pleasant chatting with Rowan, and it made the kms go by fast. He's the kind of person that you instantly trust. However, I was feeling exceedingly lethargic, and wanted to call it quits at the next hut instead of continuing on for the day. I tell ya, those 5 weeks off definitely did a toll on me. It was good to know that Middy hut to Roebuck was only 6.5 kms though. When we made it to Roebuck hut, we were the first ones to arrive, and thought it was best that we stayed there and not go on to the next hut. One reason being that we might not get a bunk spot at Browning Hut. Secondly, we were also knackered from crushing the Queen Charlotte Track in 2.5 days, and thought we deserved to treat ourselves to only a half day of walking! We like to call these days "nearo" days, not a full zero day (days we don't hike), but also not a day where we hike as far as we can. A half hour or so later 2 German girls showed up. They told us there were a lot of people at Browning Hut when they had passed by, which made us feel relieved we chose to stay at Roebuck. We chatted with the girls as we made our new pasta dinner concoction, and thoroughly relaxed. We also got to do river laundry and some mending. Moments later, a guy with silly glasses and a brown dog appeared at the hut. He was a young kiwi tramper named James. James wasn't doing the TA but seemed friendly and his dog Chester was chill too! Dyl had started a fire pretty early though, and turned the hut into a sauna. As a result, the German girls ditched us and decided to sleep outside. The boys and I/Chester the dog then ended up hanging out for the night in the hut. #hutpartayyyy. (11.5 kms) Day 6 Chester is too chill-Roebuck Hut to Starveall Hut January 15th, 2017 After an astounding night sleep, we woke up relatively early and got the ball rolling. I was well rested and feeling energized. Unlike our mood we had the previous day, because of the sh*tty sandflies, we were excited and empowered to see what the day ahead would bring. Rowan started walking before us, as he's new to the TA game and wanted to get a head start. Meanwhile, Dyl, James, Chester, and I headed out from Roebuck together shortly after. Roebuck hut to Browning was 9kms. Firstly, we passed over a dodgey swing bridge, which Chester didn't seem very fond of. He was nervously shaking and hesitant to go across the bridge, what a poor lil doggie! I don't blame him though because those bridges are real sketch. Yet, I was overtly impressed by Chester's ability to keep up with us throughout the trail, and wanted to shout out to one hell of a dog! After the bridge, we began a steep and rigorous ascent up a hill. The forest was dense and lush, offering a wonderful feeling of solidarity. Once at the top of the hill, we then followed a narrow path along the ridge for the rest of the way. FYI, there were numerous opportunities to filter water at the small stream crossings and Pelorus river! The track itself was simple to follow, even though the "sidling" parts are extremely bothersome, and I twisted my ankle a few times. As we tramped along, we chatted with James and became acquainted with our new quirky amigo. After 8 kms, we reached Totara saddle, and then it was all down hill from there to Browning Hut. At Browning, we took a baby break, and mentally prepared for the next few sections to come. Once we set off back on the trail, Browning to Hacket Hut was only 4.7kms. This section of the trail was mostly dry and flat, with signs and trail markers well posted. Hacket Hut officially ended the Pelorus River Track and started the Richmond Alpine section. Also, if needing to resupply, there's a road here that will lead you out of the rural forest to the town of Hope. After almost 13kms, we thought a dank tuna lunch break was in order. So, we took an hour or so to indulge, and continued drying out our wet mildew smelling laundry. I'm dumbfounded as to why we bother trying to wash our clothes when they end up smelling worse after we wash them, as they usually don't have time to dry properly! Certainly, were too much of DBs to actually use a laundry mat. It would just make too much sense. Anywho, twas a glorious, sunny day though, and just the right temperature for tramping. As we chilled at the hut, the only downer was the sandflies, which we can never escape! Hacket to Starveall hut was a long 6km climb up hill. The beginning of this section follows the river, crossing it back and forth numerous times. Dyl, James, Chester and I had toasted sweaty skin, and were smelling real putrid, so we agreed to go for a refreshing plunge in the chilly river. A cold plunge is also always a great way to get the blood flowing! FYI, as you make your way along the river, make sure to follow the orange trail markers- this section can be a bit confusing at times! We happened to take a few not so purposeful detours off the trail. After the river portion, we started our journey up the steep hill, which felt like we were heading upwards for forever. In total it's a 900m elevation gain from Hacket to Starveall Hut. Unfortunately, I was feeling heavy and slow in the scorching mid afternoon sun. The up hills are just not my forte, yet I dragged my sore legs and groggy mind along anyway. Dyl ended up going ahead, and James and I walked together, taking several "tactical" breaks to snack and converse. Around 6pm, we finally arrived at the hut after a reaaalllyy tiring and strenuous day. The Starveall Hut is in a superb location, just above tree line at 1180m. The hut has 6 bunks, a toilet, rain water- everything you need. Additionally, it offers gorgeous views of the surrounding mountains and peaks that we would be "tramping" over the following day. Out of the blue, we heard someone calling "Morepork" from outside the hut. It was Rowan! We were all thrilled he made it to Starveall, and enjoyed watching the array of colors pop into the sky as the sun set over the valley. Dyl also decided to give Rowan the trail name "Wet Back" because of how much he sweats. Lolz. We all ended up cooking dinner, chillin out, and having another hut party, including our new friends, an older German couple, Fred and his wife. Muhaaaa! (19kms) Day 7 Spontaneity isn't so real anymore, but sweet views still are-Starveall Hut to Rintoul Hut January 16th, 2017 Today, we started pretty early to try and get after the toughest part of the Richmond ranges. Rowan generously gave Dyl and I some instant Starbucks coffee sachets, so we were extra buzzing and ready to rock out. After our yummy brekkie and packs ready to roll, Dyl, Rowan, James, Chester, and I ventured off together from the hut around 8am. We ascended from the hut up hill, following the poles with orange markers. The trail was super rudimentary to follow, and above tree line most of the time. There were also plenty of cairns to assist in guiding us as we strolled along. Once you get to the top, we dropped our packs, and we did a 5 minute mini side trip to the summit of Mt Starveall. Dyl and James enjoyed throwing big rocks down the hill and watching them roll down the steep mountain side- anything to keep us entertained as we hike for hours on end. We also got some phenomenal photo opportunities and bellowed in the picturesque landscape. After the summit, we descended from above alpine into the forest, and followed the ridgeline to the next hut. We made things fun by playing camp games along the way and exchanging stories. Starveall Hut to Slaty was only 5.5km. When we got to Slaty hut (1400m), obviously, we had a mini snack break. Food is life. We also wanted to suss out where other trampers were planning on sleeping for the night. Unlike the North Island, the South Island is overly packed with trampers, and unfortunately we have to worry about getting to a hut at a reasonable time in order to get a bed. Especially, because Dyl and I only had one sleeping pad, and James didn't have a tent. Although it's great meeting new people, it also makes life a bit more difficult having so many people on the trail, and you can't hike the TA as spontaneously as we did on the North Island. From Slaty Hut, we followed the poles again, as we made our way up along the ridge. Then, we rode the ridge, hitting some rock scrambling sections, and passing wild mountain goats, trekking all the way up to Old Man peak. FYI, just past the summit, there's a water barrel for agua refills, which wasn't mentioned in the trail notes. The weather started to turn on us and it became exceedingly windy. Although, the sun was still shining bright, and we appreciated being mostly exposed- allowing for spectacular views of the rolling mountains, the "city" of Nelson, and the teal colored Tasman Sea. Dyl and I agreed that we prefer hiking above alpine more so then through the "bush", even if the terrain tends to be a bit more rigorous. There were definitely some sketchy rock scrambling sections throughout this section though. But, we actually get a thrill from sketchy climbing, and find such trails quite exhilarating- feeling as though we completed a jigsaw puzzle from nature. Eventually, we headed down through the forest to the junction for Old Man Hut. The hut was about .5 km off trail, and down a hill, so we decided to not detour and continued on. From Slaty to the junction was approx 10kms, and from the Old Man hut sign junction to Rintoul Hut was approx 5kms. After the junction, you climb through the native bush until the saddle right before the big kahunas. Then, we mentally prepared ourselves for the rocky steep climb to Lil Rintoul (1643m). It wasn't as horrible as others claimed it to be, but you definitely still have to take care and be cautious about slipping on the scree. Once we conquered Lil Rintoul, we made our way steeply back down the loose scree, and then ascended up again to the notorious Mt Rintoul (1731m). Although definitely a workout, we felt victorious after reaching the top! I found this section to be awesome and one of my favs of the TA so far! I'm gonna throw in the towel if I have to walk another long mundane road section, or hike through cow poop galore ever again. FYI, Mt Rintoul is actually the highest part of the Richmond range that the TA goes through. And as I previously mentioned, this segment of the trail may cause vulnerability to some, as it's mostly loose scree/rocks, your highly exposed above tree line, and the paths are quite narrow- do take care! The trail notes also exclaim that this section is the most strenuous of the whole Richmond Alpine section, I'm assuming mostly because of the elevation gains and drops. We were fortunate with excellent weather though, and breathtaking panoramic views. A few hikers we met before said they had experienced rain and not such perfect weather. So, we decided to chill at the summit of Mt Rintoul for a bit, soaking in the blissful scenery, and being mesmerized by the eclectic natural beauty of the landscape. I also appreciated the strong "gales" flowing through my hair, and rays of good ol vitamin D on my skin. Taking a break gave Rowan time to catch up as well, as he was a bit unsettled about going over the scree by himself, and we wanted to make sure he was feeling comfortable. We all did a wonderful job sticking together, motivating, and looking out for one another. Team work, oh cheyah. Eventually, we carried on, staggering in and out of the poles, down the steep scree, and then through the thick forest to Rintoul Hut. The quaint little hut has only 6 bunks, but provides ample rain water, an outdoor picnic table, and a toilet offering great 5 star views for when nature calls. We were enthralled to get to the hut after such a challenging day! However, unfortunately, the hut was full but one bed open. So, we compromised and James and I shared a bed, "hand and towel", and Rowan/Dylan slept on the floor. Chester got his own doggie hut outside and was just as pooped as we were! We met some more TA walkers, like a fellow American army dude Matt from Oregon, an introverted french couple, and highly intelligent botanists from Canada named Geoff and Lynn. As we watched the sun set and the bubbly white clouds turn to shades of orange and pink, we delightfully scarfed down our fulfilling pasta meal, and hit the hay after feeling a mixture of triumph and over exhaustion. (21kms) Day 8 Storms are a brewin'- Rintoul Hut to Top Wairoa Hut January 17th, 2017 As we had cell phone service at Rintoul Hut, we checked the weather, and realized that there was a severe storm warning throughout the Northern top of the South Island. Rob Waiken, owner of the TA trust, actually announced the storm via the TA Facebook group, telling hikers to stay tight for a few days and to wait out the bad weather. Like the responsible hikers we are (uh kinda), we evaluated and discussed the situation. Luckily, the rain wasn't supposed to start until the afternoon, and we had the opportunity to get an early head start to try and crush as many kms as we could. So, Chester, James, Rowan, Matt, Dyl, and I started our journey south through the Richmond range. We tramped along the ridge, trekking through mud and hopping over obstructing roots, eventually making it through the dense dark forest to Purple Top (1532m). Once we reached the start of the Purple Top section, the trail became quite exposed and rocky. It was also hazy out and the visibility wasn't too great. However, I did acknowledge the sensational shades of the purple ravishing rocks! Hehe. Soon after the summit, we came to a track junction and headed left towards Tarn Hut. We were really cruising, trying to get to our final destination before the bad weather hit. Even though, we weren't exactly certain of our final destination. Eventually, we departed from the rocky terrain and returned to the omnipresent bush, all the way down to Tarn Hut, which was 8kms from Rintoul. It only took us 2 hours to make the journey, although we had left our fellow TA trampers Matt and Rowan behind. Of course, we had a snack break, checked out the hut book, and lounged around for a bit. FYI, there was unfortunately no water at the hut due to lack of rain! The next hut was Mid Wairoa, which was 6.5kms away. So, we set off, and ventured up hill from Tarn Hut to a junction sign, veering left and making several up and down climbs through the forest. The last zig zagging descent down to Mid Wairoa Hut was especially steep! We also passed DOC guys along the way who told us about the sh*t weather, and warned us not to cross the rivers after 11am tomorrow. Gee wilikers, if they had only realized what their words of advice would do to us! When we got to the swing bridge right before the hut, we found Chester anxiously trying to get down from the bridge! James gave him some words of encouragement and a push though, and he jumped from the bridge. What a chill pup! There's also a sign that directs you to Wairoa Road, which we deliberated heading towards and out of the Richmond ranges because of the poop weather. Instead, we decided to keep on carrying on and risked having to wait out the weather in a hut. We also contemplated staying at Mid Wairoa Hut, but were determined to get as far through the ranges as possible. So, we kept on keeping on for the additional 7 kms to Top Wairoa. The track was fairly simple though, and followed the pristine raging river all the way up the valley. We also crossed the river multiple times, passing by many spectacular water falls and hidden swimming holes along the way. James and Chester went ahead and arrived to the hut first, while Dyl and I discussed our next moves and itinerary for the sections to come. The final ascent to the hut is steep, and was made up of wet slippery clay. Top Wairoa Hut is at the 1900km mark and 830m high- oh yeah, almost 2/3 of the way through the trail! As we scurried up the last 100m or so to the hut, we met kind kiwi Adam and giggly genuine German Luzie, who were also TA SOBO trampers! We all hung out at the hut, and were grateful to have shelter from the storm brewing in the ominous sky above. Although the river was freezing, we decided to wash the sticky sweat off our skin, taking a traditional river "shower", and soothing our aching muscles. Fire tamer Dylan started a toasty fire, and we all sat tight in the warmth of the cozy hut. After an hour or so, Omurican Matt arrived! Then, Rowan showed up too- wahoo! We were surprised yet content that they made it safe and sound! Geoff and Lynn ended up strolling in as well, and we had 9 people sleeping in a hut that accommodates 6. I felt bad that some of us had to sleep on the ground, but as the DOC states, "first come, first serve." That being said, we all crashed relatively early after our tasty meals, and slept comfortably with a dry roof over our heads. (21.5km) Day 9 Top Wairoa Hut Shenanigans January 18th, 2017 After hearing the pounding of continuous rain on the hut roof, and cracks of thunder throughout the night, everyone in the hut decided to take a zero day and enjoy sleeping in. The poor weather continued throughout the day, so we made the most of it by socializing and taking it easy in the hut. In the afternoon, the french couple and Katrin, a solo TA woman from Ireland, arrived at the hut, and it ended up being 12 of us staying there for the night. I don't think the new comers appreciated us taking a zero day. But, we were surprised people actually hiked in the heavy rain, and/or risked crossing rivers after 11am. How ludicrous of them! I think we all needed a day of rest though, especially after throwing peaks in the bag for several days in a row. We did leave the hut briefly to go for a swim in the river, and stumbled upon some chill swimming holes and majestic waterfalls! Aside from that, we spent most of the day being lazy bums and playing "thinking" games (instead of "drinking" games because we unfortunately didn't have any alcohol). As for the rest of the story, I'm gonna keep it PG and keep it at that, but Dyl and I were grateful for new friends to be silly with ;). It was truly pleasant getting to know our amigos nuevos, and even decided on a few more trail names, such as Destiny for Matt, and Camelsaw for Luzie. All in all, it was a pleasant day spent frolicking in and out of the hut, as the weather continued to be poopppaayy. Day 10 Don't cross the rivers past 11am-another zero day January 19th, 2017 As we woke up relatively late, we teetered about moving along to the next hut. Most of the other folks were moving on, however, the seven of us were on the fence about making moves. Eight if you include Chester the dog. We were especially concerned with the volatile weather and high wild rivers. Uh, kinda. What really worried us is that we wouldn't get beds if we hiked to the next hut. So, we decided to keep it real and hold down the fort at Top Wairoa for our second full day and third night in a row. Lolz. Plus the DOC guys told us not to cross the rivers after 11am, and it was definitely past the eligible crossing time. It was most certainly the longest any of us had ever stayed at a hut before, but it was an unforgettable and new experience that we all enjoyed together. We ended up having a confidential hut party, and were thrown into the vortex within our minds! Woooo man. What a long strange trip it's been. Well kinda, this being our 10th day on the trail and 2nd zero day in a row doesn't seem like we're making good progress. Lolz. At one point, when we noticed the sun had shone through the billowing clouds, we escaped the hut to explore the surrounding landscape. After a few days of rain and gloom, we all felt grateful for an idyllic taste of natural color and vibrancy in our lives. The sights of the deep green forests brought forth a pleasant contrast to the bright blue afternoon sky. We also spotted the red rolling hills in the distance- leading to discussions and appreciations for the wonders of nature. When we got back to the hut, Chester had gotten to the cheese, and ate about half of what we had left! Silly stinky Chester dog, cheese is for da kids! Later on, seven other TA walkers showed up, and there were fourteen people in the six person hut. Gee wilikers, it was crowded to say the least! We made it work though and worked out fitting all of us under one roof! Two of the new seven trampers were the German siblings that Warrick and Keitha had mentioned to us, so we were stoked to surprisingly meet them! Although a bit of a blur, we were pleased by our decision to stay and chill out in the hut for another day!