Hot and Bothered

January 16th
Lower Wairaki Hut to Aparima Hut
Distance: 13km
Elevation: no change but lots of "down 20m then right back up" during river crossings
Steps: 24,000

We woke up reasonably early this morning and got on our way. Now, remember that for many people, yesterday and today are one big day. Well, we are definitely not trail fit to that extent, yet! Today's "easy" 13km still took us 6.5 hours, including some good sit-down rests, and a little resurgent flare of Vaughan's knee problem.

But the views! Mostly through native forest, and we saw so many korimako (bellbirds), titipounamou (rifleman), and miromiro (tomtit). 
We eventually got out into some open tussock, luckly only with about 2km to go to the hut, else we would have been burned to a crisp - see us being sun smart:
Right before you get to the hut, we got our first (but definitely not last) swing bridge, and to make it even better, this is a single-person bridge!
Finally, may we share this moss/fungi/lichen composite:

Oh, and the sweet sweet sight of the hut!

At the hut we met Paul, a very experienced outdoorsman. He has done the South Island section of Te Araroa 4 times (this is his 5th), and he is the first super-light tramper we've met. Remember that our packs weigh around 11 or 12kg each, before adding food and water? Paul's weighs less than 4kg. Part of this is that he has paid for the expensive, super-light gear. He also doesn't carry some of the things that we are not yet ready to give up, like a cooker (He eats One Square Meal bars for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks in between.) So the pack weight sounds wonderful, but you all would not be getting these blog posts if we were that light! (Yes, this keyboard is super light, but it would not make the cut.)
Good night from Aparima hut!
 

Comments

  1. UnknownJanuary 17, 2022 at 8:56 PM

    4kg? My backpack alone weighs nearly 3! I think you're on the right track though, OSM for every meal (or even any meal) sounds terrible.
    Ross

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownJanuary 17, 2022 at 9:14 PM

    PS the miromiro were out in force on the Paparoa track this weekend. The kids have decided they're up with the fantail/piwakawaka and weka as favourites.
    Ross

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VaughanJanuary 18, 2022 at 5:21 PM

      All excellent avian choices Ross. We haven't come across weka yet, but I'm looking forward to defending our gear from them!

      Delete
  3. lisa1111January 18, 2022 at 4:49 PM

    Enjoying your adventures - you are doing well! I feel guilty being in air conditioning with no cut up legs or blisters :-) Lisa F.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. VaughanJanuary 18, 2022 at 5:23 PM

      Thanks Lisa! The hut air con involved opening a window and door. But then the sandflies!!

      Delete

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