It rained during the night and I thanked my lucky stars that I waterproofed my tent! It holds the rain pretty well, but I’m not 100% convinced that it will hold much rain. So I need a new tent.
When my alarm went at 5 am, another rain cloud floated passed our campsite. I snoozed for another half hour and started packing. Today I walked Raetea forest, notorious for its mud, and to do that comfortably I wanted to leave as early as possible.
Today the earliest possible was 7 am. The trail doesn’t start right away with mud. It gives you first a 4D track. After 2km it starts! And there is no escape. I followed the wisdom of Moss a kiwi I met last time: ‘just go straight through the mud’. And so I did.
There was so much more mud than last time. But in a better hiking shape and a circa 10kg lighter backpack. I could enjoy it much more.
I saw the others, who started soon after me, a few times. Until they joined me for a break on one of the view spots with a view. We still had the occasional rain cloud, but the sun started to peak through a bit.
After the break, I walked with Martin. A Swiss man who tackled the mud barefoot. We chatted for an hour until there was a hold-up because of a mud pool. I followed the Wiss Moss and went straight through. It brought me to the front and I continued at my own speed.
I felt really good. Found another spot with a view for lunch and slid through the mud. I did make a wrong movement with my right knee. Luckily I wore a knee brace and the trail didn’t ease up like last time. So it added some time. Me taking the wrong turn also caused a delay in my arrival time. Unfortunately, I forgot to unpause Strava so the wrong turn isn’t recorded.
In that time the rest of the group apparently passed me. I arrived at the campsite with them being there.
Cleaning my legs, shoes, socks, shorts, poles, and rain pants took a while which made me have up on cleaning half the stuff. It will either get dirtier with me or clean in the river of the next section.
After a nice dinner, the Kiwi brothers turned up. I chatted with them as well.
Now my eyes fall close whilst writing this. Do I’ll call it a day and go to bed.
Zilla-in-the-wild 