What a day!! This is hiking at its best. Adventurous, beautiful, a test to the limits, reward at the end. Perfectly epic day!
It didn’t rain! Well not much anyway. Not enough to worry us. So 13 intrepid hikers set off, butterflies in the tummy, hoping to make it to the end.
The first half hour was all downhill. And it was all about mud. Great big swaths of boggy, clayey, gooey mud. So much for the dry, clean shoes. Time to embrace the day. Mud it is!
Not to worry, because the second pass is all about water. And not just a creek crossing. A creek walk! We plunge into the icy water and start slogging. It’s just over 4km straight down the creek. No side track. Just the creek itself. It’s heavenly.
We quickly all break up into smaller groups giving the illusion that we have the whole forest to ourselves. We cross small and large streams trying to find the best route through the rocky passes. The sun glistens off the water and the greenery along both sides of the bank shines. It’s an immensely enjoyable experience.
At the end of the creek walk is a large, inviting waterhole. Here folks have gathered for a break, so a quick dip is not on the cards. Instead, we move into phase 3 of the walk.
Phase 3 consists of what kiwis call ‘siding’. This is traversing the side of a hill on a very small track, often with a potentially damaging fall off to one side. It’s tricky going. The track is tough with tree roots and mud making things slippery and difficult. The forest is lovely however, as we travel adjacent to a vibrant river.
Close to the end of Phase 3 we decided to take a break on a log on the opposite side of the river. No sooner had we sat down when across sloshed a new face. Enter Chris. A Swiss fellow who has lived in NZ for 20 odd years. And can you believe it….we both knew someone from Norfolk!! Right out in the middle of nowhere! Although a small place…Norfolk Islanders are everywhere!
We begin Phase 4 with a steep, steep climb up many, many steps. Before long, we’ve travelled from the creek to the ridge. The forest changes. Massive kauri trees are everywhere. It feels such a privilege to witness them in all their glory. The track traverses several ridge tops and tree routes continue to be a problematic trip hazard. The air is cool and mountainous. It feels like freedom.
Eventually we reach a 4wd track. Just 9.5km left to camp. Another few hours. We start to move quickly, enjoying being able to stretch the legs. It’s starts to spit. And gets heavier and heavier.
We arrive tired and elated into camp. It’s been an epic day. One of those days you hope for when doing this sport. It’s a jostle in the campground for sites again. Particularly because rain is due. Big rain. Dinner is spent huddled under a small shelter. At its completion I scurry to my tent, eager to tuck into my warm sleeping bag and reflect on an amazing day.
Day 10 looked hard work,,!
Epic day! Great candids of HOSC maneuvering the creek! Can’t believe you slugged so far with wet, muddy shoes…. leeches??
So different from the colours and textures of the Heysen! xx
Very tough couple of days! Congratulations to both of you on surviving it so well and still in such good spirits.