tramping new zealand

Since leaving the Mavora Lakes, I had a couple of big day walks.

First, on a showery Sunday afternoon, I did the 450 m climb up the Nevis Road, walking, to see the old Gaston Ski Club Hut from 1938.

It was added to a few times, and then Coronet Peak Ski Field opened in 1947, and interest in the area waned due to the paucity of facilities in comparison.

The next day it was up to the two Junction Huts near Roxburgh, which was quite a day despite being able to drive my long-suffering car up to the airstrip. Just as well, as after a drive from Lumsden, I didn’t start walking until after 12 pm.

It turned out to be another 30,000-step day, with a fair amount of climbing involved.

Today was also a travelling day, getting from Alexandra to Lake Clearwater, and only leaving the car after 3 pm.

It was again very windy, which initially helped by pushing me along, but later required smashing into. Otherwise cloudless.

It was familiar territory, and I even spent an hour and a half back on Te Araroa after a ten-year absence.

I took the flatter option, one of several available. It’s tussock land, no trees and a little Matagouri. Big views to match the big wind.

No one else was around, so I plugged into my current musical distraction: the complete symphonies of Sibelius, which seemed fitting for the landscape I was walking through.

It was possibly the easiest day walking due to the lack of big hill climbing.

No one else was in the hut when I arrived after four hours on the trot. And that’s sometimes good when you’re feeling tired after a decent day.