Day 89
Nov 28 day 89 Comyns Hut to Manuka Hut 6:45-1:30 21 km I packed as quietly as I could, remembering that Jan from the Czech Republic likes to sleep later than most thru hikers. The trail led out over the hill directly behind the hut to the north branch of Ashburton River which was rushing […]
Day 88
Nov 27 day 88 Glenrock Stream to Comyns Hut 7:15-11:15 16 km Today I saw the truth of the old adage “red sky in morning, sailors take warning.” I woke at 5:00 and saw out the window a magnificent and ominous red sky accompanied by strong winds. Had coffee with another of the Blue Pub […]
Day 87
Nov 26 day 87 Hamilton Hut to Methven 6:45-1:30 30 km (then hitched into town) Today was one of those dilemma days the Te Aroroa sometimes throws at you. From Hamilton Hut, there is a campground at about 15 km distance. The next accommodation is the Lake Coleridge Lodge, an upscale place that really wants […]
Day 86
Nov 25 day 86 Cora Lynn Car Park to Hamilton Hut 9:30-3:15 15.5 km Last night’s Bangers and Mash did not agree with me, so my night was not particularly restful. Started the morning slowly as I wanted to get Eggs Benedict at the cafe before leaving (they are really really good– with us hikers, […]
Day 85
Nov 24 day 85 Arthur’s Pass 0 km Still pouring rain which makes the next part of the Te Araroa impassable (and I’m glad I got through yesterday as it would have been impossible today). So I’m spending the day here — a nice village to rest a bit waiting for slightly better weather. Will […]
Day 84
Nov 23 day 84 Locke Stream Hut to Arthur’s Pass 6:50- 12:20 23 km Woke several times in the night to rain on the hut roof, prompting anxiety that I would not be able to make it out of the river valley to the next section of the TA or to Arthur’s Pass village. As […]
Day 83
Nov 22 day 83 Hurunui Hut # 3 to Locke Stream Hut 7:00-12:00 13 km It rained off and on most of the night and was raining when I left Hurunui Hut. I hoped to at least get to Kiwi Hut if not out to the road to Arthur’s Pass, but high water is high […]
Day 82
Nov 21 day 82 Kiwi Hope Hut to Hurunui Hut # 3 8:15-4:30 27 km A cloudy drizzly day past a lake and up some river valleys. A couple of wet stream crossings, but rivers all had swinging bridges. Often the trail would go up into the woods for some serious mud and root hiking […]
Day 81
Nov 20 day 81 Boyle Village (Reefton) to Kiwi Hope Hut 10:45-5:30 25 km In the middle of the night the rain started–I could hear it on the motel’s metal roof. I woke at six, but the bus to Boyle Village did not leave until 9:00. I watched the news and drank all the complementary […]
Day 80
Nov 19 day 80 Anne Hut to Boyle Village (Reefton) 6:45-2:30 29 km Once again I was a walker of rivers. Set off fairly early from the hut. All the other hikers were still in their sleeping bags, but the DoC ranger, who I had met the other day while he was gathering seedlings of […]