I shared the hut last night with a couple of men who arrived about 9.00 o’clock. From looking at their gear, they didn’t seem to be thru hikers and while really friendly and up for a yarn, they weren’t that forthcoming about what they were up to. Young fellas being young fellas I guess!
When I woke this morning, I fully expected I would be able to walk out of the hut and be back where i started yesterday, at the bottom of the mountain. I was sure the discordant ruckus coming from those other two sleeping bags through the night had surely levelled the mountain.
I am actually quite skilled at compartmentalising and putting things aside, including an ability to completely tune out and ignore noise, which really helped last night that’s for sure! It’s a great skill to have, particularly as I am not travelling with ear plugs. (This was a decision I consciously made. While many people do use them, I’m a woman hiking on my own. I feel very safe and very comfortable in my ability to look after myself but think I would prefer to hear what is happening in my environment).
After a quick breakfast of oats and a cuppa (not making THAT mistake again) I headed off. I can see why the trip notes include a caution for this section of the trail, recommending it be undertaken by people with moderate to high level backcountry skills and experience, including nav ability and survival skills. The ‘track’ is mostly unformed, is steep, rough and muddy.
Throw in some inclement weather and poor prep and you could really get into trouble up here.
The weather is not what I expected. I’m not talking about the rain etc rather, the temperatures aren’t what I’m used to. It is summer and I’m still sleeping in thermal gear. And this goes for when I’m in town too. Nights are chilly over here!
Hiking this track feels great though. Back in bush, out of town and off roads for a bit.
I passed through some pretty farmland. One of the markers for today is a wool shed. Pretty hard to miss that.
Next marker was a grass airstrip. I did miss the start of that and was almost onto it before I realised and pulled up. The bloke unloading a truck and I had some um, friendly words, about crossing an operational airstrip. He was pretty good actually, given he was concerned for my safety and I had been stepping out with my head in the clouds. Peace mate, and thanks.
After the airstrip, I followed a fence line for a while before a gorgeous walk through a forest.
Careful navigation for 1/2 k or so along a ridge line and down some slippery slopes brought me to the Moakurarua Stream.
Apparently, in normal weather, the stream is knee high. Today it was mid thigh but with slow current so I crossed with relative ease.
And so the day went. Up. Down. Up.
My goal today was to reach Waitomo if I could and I had made a decision this morning that if I wasn’t in town by 8.30 I would camp.
By 7.45 I had a choice to push the last five k or call it a day.
I called it and stealth camped not far from the road.
This felt like one of my biggest days so far. Maybe not so much with regard to k’s but energy wise, it took it out of me. Maybe I didn’t get as much sleep as I thought!
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