We decided that tramping is also supposed to be fun as well as challenging. Not just plain hard all the time. (even if you do feel accomplished afterwards)
It was an excellent trip and we had heaps of fun, but lots of little things happened which made it more interesting that I thought I would mention on here and highlight the fact that trips don't always go completely to plan and can still be great anyway!
The very first day there were 22 river crossing before we got to our first campsite, this meant that our boots were wet for the rest of the trip almost
Lesson: Plan to get wet.
We tried to dry out our socks over the fire we lit that night while eating dinner.... the result = 2 pairs of charred cooked socks.
Lesson: Don't let Aliesha oversee sock cooking
We left at 5 30 am the next morning to try and get a headstart on the hill before the sun caught us, but while trying to pack my stuff in the half light we left (well, I left...) Tegans' knife hiding in the grass while we started climbing the mountain.
Lesson: Don't pack in the dark, no matter how much the mosquitos like the head torch.
Halfway up the mountain I stepped in a massive mud patch and sunk up to my knees in it...leaving mud all through my socks and boots and legs. Tegan actually had to pull me out because the suction was too strong to pull out by myself.
Lesson: watch where you're walking. All the time.
We were thinking it was about time to see the hut soon so when we saw a little hut down by the river side we decided that instead of following the track which seemed to loop inconveniently up the mountain, we made the decision just to climb down the cliff and follow the river to the hut.
However 20 mins later upon arrival we see that this is a locked construction hut that we cannot use at all! Following this is a 250 m rock climbing/grass pulling/ vertical uphill climb back to the track...
Lesson: Don't leave the track. it's there for a reason!
(just for the record, we saw the real hut about 4 hours later.... a LONG time after our original ETA)
At lunch we decided on an alternate route following a four wheel drive track (we thought) rather than going over the next mountain, but instead going around it.... After we reached it we see a sign that said something that we interpreted as "Don't you dare walk on this track you filthy trampers... if we see you we'll shoot first and ask questions later"
So in fear of death we decided to follow the river to Wanaka which isn't owned by anyone.
This however, turned out to be a very long windy pathway...
Lesson: Check with DOC before choosing a path to see if it is actually a path and not a road through a private sheep station.
There were plenty more tramping life lessons I could include in this but it's getting long so I'll finish up... It was a great trip though and don't regret anything!
Lesson: We live in one of the most beautiful nations on earth, get off the couch and explore your backyard!
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| This was our muesli breakfast half way up the mountain after our 5 30 am start |
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