Te Araroa: The River Rush

06.02.2020 Day 101 & 07.02.2020 Day 102 (0km) 

It was really difficult for me to decide to take an extra rest day. I had planned on spending the sixth writing and catching up on work, but not the seventh. Unfortunately, I didn’t get as much done as I would have liked (aka typing up my blog). A weird pain had also taken up residence in the side of my foot, forcing me to limp around town when running errands. With the majority of my friends having departed on the fifth and sixth, I was keen to get going and try to catch up. It was nice having an extra day, but it made me anxious and determined to push hard and rejoin the others. 

Days’ Highlights: Actually getting my blog stuff finished so I don’t have to stress about it on trail. 

08.02.2020 Day 103 (35km)

I was worried I wouldn’t be able to get a hitch. Being a Saturday morning, I wasn’t sure how many people would be out and about…I mean, people generally like to sleep in on weekends. 

Luck was on my side and one of the guests at the hostel dropped me at the crossroads on her way back to Christchurch. One step down, now came the long wait, or so I thought. Not fifteen minutes later an employee of the Boyle Outdoor Research Center pulled over and offered me a lift to Windy Point, where I was hopping back on the TA. A huge rainbow marked the start of the track as we approached, an omen of good luck. 

By nine am, I was digging my trekking poles into the dirt towards Arthur’s Pass. I kept my pace up throughout the day. With a lot of kilometers to cover, I didn’t want to be arriving at the hut after dark. Normally, people did this part of the track in about five days, but wanting to catch up, I was hoping to knock it out in three. 

The track wove its way through crisp forests and breezy fields. Multiple stream crossings cut the path, but nothing major enough to require wet feet. Then as quickly as the day had begun, it was over and I was unpacking my bag at the hut. 

Day’s Highlights: I’m gaining on my friends!

09.02.2020 Day 104 (33km)

Oh, what a day! I know I should be creative and describe the tiny black and yellow striped caterpillars that clung to the weeds like Christmas ornaments; or talk about the moss hugging the trees like winter frost, but all I can think about is how tired I am and how amazing it will feel to close my eyes. 

There hasn’t been much bushwhacking in South Island, until today when the path narrowed to an overgrown stream. I suppose it wasn’t supposed to be a steam, just a steep set of rock stairs, but there was water flowing down it today. 

One special feature was the hot pools along the track, yet somehow I completely missed them. I guess my mind must have been wandering. Eventually, I wondered why it was taking me so long to get there and consulted GPS to discover the pools were two kilometers behind me. 

The aftermath of the storms, recent and past, were evident everywhere. A huge tree with multiple branches claimed lordship over the track. I literally climbed up it like a kid on a playground to get to the other side…it was massive. At another spot, the trail abruptly ended at a cliff, forcing me to backtrack and walk along the river. I gave up on dry feet after the second kilometer of the day when I misjudged a mud puddle and sank in up to my knee. It was a good thing too; with the multitude of crossings there was no point wasting time attempting to hop across. 

On one of the narrow ridges my foot slid off a rock, sending my other leg over the side. I found myself sitting with my bum half over the ledge. Thank goodness there were slim trees and brush to prevent me from slipping further down the embankment. 

As you can see, I have plenty of reasons to be tired. 

Day’s Highlights: The view of the mountains from Kiwi Hut is gorgeous. 

10.02.2020 Day 105 (29km)

I think my mum would have had a heart attack if she had seen some of the rivers I crossed today. The deepest brought the waters right up below my bum, and some of them were moving well faster than normal walking pace. Fortunately, I wasn’t alone, which was honestly a relief. 

A few nights ago I met a Kiwi kid who was going about the same distances as I was. Together we navigated the poorly marked terrain, crossed white-tipped rivers, cut our way through an overgrown forest, and scaled boulders along the side of the water. 

My body aches from all of the hap-hazard balancing and literally pulling myself up rocks. In one section we missed a marker and had to lower ourselves down a small cliff using tree branches.

Partway up Deception River, we stopped at a clear blue waterfall to rinse the day’s exertion from our skin. It had been a long, hot walk and I was beginning to feel it wearing on me. As the chill of the water hit my head, my heart skipped a beat, but I welcomed the change in temperature. We sat on a rock in the sun, allowing nature to dry our skin and clothes, and to my utter astonishment, there wasn’t a single sandfly in sight. 

During the final ascent to the hut, it took every fiber of my being to not throw myself back into the turquoise river, pack and all. 

Day’s Highlights: The quick dip in the icy water. 

11.02.2020 Day 106 (26km)

I don’t really know what to write for today, guess I’m not really in the writing mood. Exciting news is that I caught up with my trail family. Yay! It feels really good to be surrounded by people I know and care about. 

I was up and out of bed before the sun; rushing as quickly as I could to do the last 10km out of the mountains and to Arthur’s Pass, hoping beyond hope that someone was still there. I was in luck, Alex and Will had decided on a leisurely morning. So after I picked up my bounce box, we met for coffee, and headed back to the trail. 

Later at the hut I was reunited with Trev, Robyn, Lea, and several other friends. 

Day’s Highlights: Reunited!