tramping new zealand

Up early, but some discussion with the DOC guy meant I didn’t leave before 8 30 am.

I could have chosen to go up the main track, but I elected to take the more direct path on a second marked track.

The track started well. That didn’t last.

The middle section was more of an adventure, where a few times I found myself in shoulder-deep crown fern, looking for a track marker, which had disappeared. Seemed I always guessed right, but plenty of time was spent on thrashing around in the shrubbery.

Strangely, sections were sublime, except for the continual climbing, which was quite steep in some places. It was slower going when I couldn’t see my feet.

The last section was very steep and also not well marked. It took all morning and part of the afternoon to climb to the better-maintained track along the ridge. I guess that once I found Internet connectivity, I had plenty of people to contact, the 10-day weather report to download, etc.

At the top, I could finally engage third and fourth gear, despite the howling wind. Views were had over the Takapau Plains, and for a while, the ridge I’d be wandering along the next day was visible, well, until cloud rolled in.

The best was the descent on a newly cut track that had seen few others. It was hacked through a cedar forest with plenty of moss clinging to the trunks and limbs. Grip was excellent and descent much faster than the earlier ascent.

Leon Kinvig Hut is a delight, having recently relocated downstream and been fully renovated; hence, the new tracks were required. Not much time for anything other than eating dinner and sliding into my sleeping bag. That morning’s effort really knocked me out.