So pretty it's gorgeous

February 7th 

Stody's Hut to Top Timaru Hut

KM 2544.5

Distance: 13.5km

Elevation: ascent:580m descent:760m

Steps: 25,500

Time: 7:55am - 7:00pm

Brfief postscript from the last blog: a mouse managed to get into the middle oif Vaughan's backpack and nibbled on a One Square Meal bar (Our go-to for snacks). It didn't have much, probably the equivalent of one square meal for a mouse.

Descending from Stodys Hut we soon heard the rushing water in Timaru Creek, which sounded more like a river (what's the difference anyway?).

Sometime later we saw the cloudy, silt laden water whinch indicated that it was still in flood. On reaching the creek we decided to sit and watch the water level to see if it was dropping or rising. Helpfully, lines scratched in the sand by people 48 hrs earlier was proof that the creek was dropping. 

Soon, three other people came down stream and informed us that although it was swift, the creek was crossable and the crossings would get easier and shallower for us. 

After Nigel arrived we continued on, making the first two crossings together for safety. Linsay had promised to meet us at Stody's Hut the night before. When she never showed up, we assumed that she has gone back to Hawea, or has hooked up with other hikers and will be a day or so behind us. She is a very competent tramper, and we are not worried about her.

The track scaled ridges and gullies covered in beech forest beside the creek, and otherwise dipped in and out of the river/creek about 10 times. Multiple tree falls made for challenging obstacles to either climb or crawl, and left scratches and bruises.

As you can see this section of the river was stunning. In fact, you could say it was gorge-ous!

Also, trust me when I say that the elevation profile above does NOT do the day justice! It was lots and lots of up and down, maybe just 20m or 40m, but it was... energy-sapping. Even though it was in our favourite beech forest which had abundant bird life!

Part of the appeal of doing this walk is to pass more slowly through the landscape. However, this was one of those occassions when we were pressed for time to make it to Top Timaru Hut before sunset and so it became a bit of a mission. 

Also, this section had quite a few elements to it which are quite tricky/technical/"advanced". At one point, Eliza turned to Vaughan and said that pretty much everything we'd done to day, she wouldn't have felt comfortable doing, 5 years ago. But today, we both pushed through, navigating rocky scree slopes, sidling along steep bare hills, river crossings with - well, not with ease, but with at least some confidence.

And luxury, a hut to ourselves! Not even a mouse!! And yes, we did get there before sunset :)