Iain's Great Adventure - Te Araroa

Garmin Connect As I got up and active this morning the were moments of blue skys peeping through the gray cloud which topped the hills around the hut. However as I left Top Wairoa Hut I became nervous for what lay ahead. The clouds were forming and no longer allowing any blue through. As I walked up the hill from the hut I considered returning to see what the weather would do, but instead stopped to put and extra layer beneath my rain coat and my water proof trousers on. I continued up into the clouds, which seemed to rise as I did. After about an hour the sun began showing signs of peeing through. Which gave me confidence to continue. Further up the cloud dominated the landscape providing little visibility, making it more difficult to make out the orange poles or man made cairns. I pressed on and found my way to Mt Ellis, stopping briefly for phone service and some messages. On the way down the cloud cleared and I enjoyed the walk down the valley to the river beneath Hunter Hut.

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Walked to mid wairoa hut with Brent and Clare...it was wet through the forest and a bit technical with wet roots and rocks. Made it it good time closely followed by pipa and Jane Sticking with my plan to make St Arnaud for 31st I pressed onto top wairoa hut. It was still wet and definitely challenging route. A few tricky rock traverses and later some river crossings which I handled well. Course definitely helped to pick the right position to cross and use my poles to secure my footings. Arrived at the hut and all alone for the night. Was cold and wet so got a fire going to warm up and dry clothes. Had with myself collecting fire wood and keeping the fire going. 7pm already and not yet eaten so should get that on before it gets any darker. Already dark in hut.

Garmin Connect Tarn hut short day, 6km relatively easy arrived for lunch and rested for the rest of the day. We all walked into the tarn to sock our legs and have a clean. Then spend the rest of the day sitting in the sun chatting. I wittled.  First samurai sword of the trip. Really happy with result.  Fun time.

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Left slaty hut first, beautiful day. Climbed to the ridge and then slowed down for Brent and Clare following. View was spectacular and felt like I want to share with them. Glad I did. We had a great walk round the ridge towards old man hut.  When we got to the turn off Katy arrived too.. we stopped for some lunch and decision time. It was such a beautiful day we decided to press on for mt rintoul hut, another 5hrs...was going to be a long day. Up little rintoul, back down ~400m difficult rocky terrain, then up to big rintoul. It was a mission, but still not over. We still had to descend 490m to the hut. Loose scree then steep through trees. I thought my soles were detaching from my feet. Arrived at hut, pipa and Jane had come from old man hut.

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Middy hut climb to rocks hut. Sat for a bit. Nearly feel asleep and got a bit of the shivers.. headed back out ..  Though it was just a decent to Browning's hut but ended up a bit undulating.  Browning's hut along for Xmas eve. A runner stopped by but just to say hi.

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Christmas day, woke with a mosquito buzzing in my ear. Killed it.. not a great start to Christmas day. Short walk to hacket hut. America. Girl there still not left..she planning to go to slaty hut. Another couple had left already. I reached starveall hut just after Brent and Clare, closely followed by Katie.  Then old couple from nelson appeared from nowhere.. apparently mountain biked then hiked up another track. We all had lunch then headed off to slaty. Big day for me but made slaty and was glad of the company. Brent and Clare from Christchurch, katy studying in wellington. Good fun and we all enjoyed Narelle's Christmas cake that I had been carrying from the start.

Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Garmin Connect Heading out into the Richmond range today. Aiming to be at St Arnaud for new year. Don't expect much cell phone coverage through there. Emerald pools cold dip for aching hip..did the job.. Swing bridges a bit daunting. No photos, conserving power.. river was spectacular. Passed trail runner at captains creek hut then on his way back on my way to middy hut. Thought I was going to have a lonely night, then sisters Eve and Meg arrived to the hut. Living in nelson, from London. Lamb and veg for tea... Actually very good.