TA Day 49 | up to the junction of the Mingha and Edwards Rivers

A big old day just walking down the Waimak, and then the Waimakariri River crossing.

Egads, the river was completely dry, that’s the second time I have crossed it in six months and not got my feet wet.

I visited Anti Crow Hut, first time I’ve been back since I was 18, a few changes, the open fire has been replaced with a wood burner, but I’m just guessing that the skylight is a more recent improvement. It was around that time I wandered the Mingha/Deception, now famous as being the running section of the annual Coast-to-Coast race. From recollection there’s not much in the way of track, you just walk up the river, the Mingha the easier part, the Deception not a lot of fun.

Just as I turned into the Mingha Valley it started to rain, a bit more than a drizzle, and for once I’m out in my tent for the night.

Actually that might be a couple of tent nights, there’s a lack of a hut at the bottom of the Deception and a fair way around to Kiwi Hut now the flood track has been washed mostly away. I’ll probably go over the footbridge over the Otira and cross back at Aitkens, if the rivers are still low.

Dinner can now be served, gotta go, rain still dribbling on.