Being outside in the morning allowed me to make breakfast without disturbing the others, but they still managed to leave a few minutes before me.
I was now loaded down with another six days of food, rations that I had not required to be lugged to Johnson Hut and had hung in the rafters to avoid rodent attack.
I’d recorded my track to Kākāpō Hut on my GPS app in April 2023 with numerous timestamps and found I’d walked at a similar pace on that trip, despite my summer out in the hills this time.
My body was a bit tired from my Johnson River adventure and my pack was certainly a few kilos heavier with the extra food.
Compared with my first effort, I started an hour later, although with more daylight available.
Back on the road.
The first section to lunch at Bellbird Creek was relatively straightforward. Then, the short climb up to Unnamed Saddle was easily achieved in comparison with my big climbs of the summer. I hardly noticed it.
From there is the most physical bit. A 60 m climb down a steep scree slope and then climbing immediately back up again on even more of an incline. After that, it is bumpy and, for me, relatively slow whilst also avoiding getting stung by numerous wasps. Success in that department.
Eventually, I hit the trapping track down near the river, where the track markers appeared with profusion, and the lumpiness eventually turned to excellent walking on river terraces.
I had the hut to myself, while noting that I was an occupier of the once remote for a third successive night. Those three blokes the night before me, and a couple the night before that.
Kākāpō has become a thing.
Kākāpō Hut. Kākāpō River valley. Kākāpō Saddle.
I realised that other than the weather, which was going to have morning showers coming up, there was little reason to move on quickly. I could have a rest day that would help reduce my food load and let me appreciate the Kākāpō Valley some more.
Oh, and it would mean I didn’t need to carry that pack for a day, and I would certainly appreciate that.
A guide to the night’s accommodation: Kākāpo Hut
