Te Araroa day 17

This was the big day, getting over the waiau pass. We could see the route from the camp and knew it was straight up.. this picture does not do it justice. +400m climb up to 1870m.
It was a steady slog, but we made it in good time.
We found some snow at the top, Dale couldn't resist a snow angle and making some yellow snow. We also celebrated with a whisky slushy. A bit good, although regretted a little on the tricky downhill that followed.
Waiau cocktail
🥃 Whisky (Not tonic)
🍦mountain slushy ice
🏔️ 1870m above sea level

The down was hard and the sun was hot. A very long day to reach Caroline creek bivy. (3km short of planned hut destination).
Nice camp site with way too many sandflies. Had a fire to try to control the sandflies while we eat, helped to just about make it bearable.
When I did get into my tent it sounded like it was raining. The sandflies bouncing between the fly sheet and the inner tent. 

Beautiful valley.

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