After almost a week, the weather is finally good enough to go back to the trail. With the birthday of Tika next week, I decided I would hike in Northward direction from Arthurs Pass to Boyle Village (the location where I left the trail). Besides easier hitchhiking, it is also a choice made by the weather and terrain. The upcoming days are definitely sunny, the weekend might be rainy. In NoBo direction I cross the rivers in the first few days, plus 2/3 rivers I hike in upstream direction. So if I can cross downstream, it’s most likely I can cross upstream (except when it’s raining upstream).
Before I started hitching I ate a big breakfast and updated my blog (had no motivation to do it sooner). The hitching went extremely smoothly, with the highlight of my ride with the Chief Executive of Environmental Canterbury who kinda offered me a job!! I got her number and if I want a job in NZ after I finish the TA I should give her a call. What an amazing opportunity and she was absolutely amazing as a person! So who knows?
Another extremely kind Kiwi went out of her way to drive me to the spot where I would start the TA again. I am so grateful for the kindness of Kiwis and I hope it will stay like this forever!
After all the luxuries of the past week, it took a second to cross the first stream and to sacrifice my dry feet. Luckily I did because it was a very wet trail!
The uphill took a little more effort. It takes a dag or two to snap my body out of chill mode. The river was clear but definitely fed by a lot of groundwater from recent rainfall. The crossings were upper thy, so about the max I do comfortably. Although it was very cold!
The last bit over the saddle was even colder, with a strong headwind, no sun, and temperatures near 10 degrees Celsius I think.
I was the first to arrive at the hut, but luckily two other hikers joined me. Hopefully, together we can heat the place because there is no woodburner and I wore all my layers (including rain gear) to get warm again. It worked a little bit, but I got early in my sleepbag (with my thermos and socks on which is the first time this hike) so hopefully I will be warm soon. I think the temperature will drop below zero tonight. So extremely grateful for this amazing hut!
What a day!!
Zilla-in-the-wild 