My itinerary has been sorted.
Mostly.
I was keen to get to Islands Hut. My notes indicated it was a six-bunk variety, which I’m familiar with. Not many go there from what I’d seen, maybe because it’s mostly a cul-de-sac destination.
Not so many go to Cromel Base Hut either, or at least stay there, because it’s so close to the road end.
I was looking at heading over to Acton Hut, which, I’d been advised, is in a poor state. But I’m carrying my tent, so I could always camp outside.
As noted, I tested the track on the other side of the river the previous day, which saved some time, but the river, despite the rain, was only ankle-deep.
I had progressed 20 m parallel to the river in the forest when I looked across the river, straight into the eyes of a stag.
It was either six or an eight-pointer, a decent headdress, but he was out of there as soon as he saw me. I guess the river noise masked my crashing around, but my smell must’ve drifted across.
That was the morning’s excitement, and then it was into hill climb mode once again, around 500 m on a mostly easy gradient on an originally well-maintained track. Some sublime parts with occasional fallen trees to get around.
About halfway up, I found Internet connectivity, which delayed progress.
It was quite limited undergrowth on the way up, but sidling beneath a south-facing ridge meant for damper conditions; pig rooting and more vegetation.
The top of the hill was at 840 m, and it was time to descend faster. It was considerably steeper, and I had a few moments where the track wasn’t so easy to follow.
Eventually, I popped out on a big grassy clearing, then through another patch of beech forest, and I could see the hut.
Acton Hut looked good at a distance, but it turned out to be better to sleep outside in a tent. Too much olfactory sensation.
A thick layer of rat covered every horizontal surface. The vertical surfaces were colonised by spiders and their dusty webs.
An early bedtime in the tent immediately outside the hut, and a big night’s sleep awaited.
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