Life on Mars

March 16
Hunters Hut to Top Wairoa Hut
KM 1915.5
Distance: 10.4km 
Elevation: ascent 892m, descent 893m
Steps: 18,600
Time: 8:05am - 2:15pm

Remember the trail trials of yesterday? Well, they continued today. We were shown a small amount of mercy with a bit of a warm up leaving Hunters Hut, a flatish track in the cool shadow of Mt Ellis. Soon we began the 800m ascent through scrappy scrub but it wasn't long before we were above the bush line and climbing crumbly scree.

Once at the top there were spectacular views of the surrounding peaks and ridges, as well as the Tasman coastline out to Abel Tasman National Park. The tops are completely exposed and once on the top ridge we were buffetted by a fairly brisk wind which kept us walking a safe distance from the edge.
  
From there it was downhill, both literally and figuratively. Most of the 800m descent to the hut was over landslide talluses of large rocks and boulders which, like yesterday, haven't yet completely settled into place. Every now and then one would shift under foot just enough to shake our confidence in the rest. It made for slow going, at times about 1km/h. 

To pass the time we talked about what the red, rocky landscape reminded us of. Eliza recalled the Four Corners desert area of the USA; near where Colorado, Utah, Arizona and New Mexico state lines all meet. Both of us imagine that it's a little like inland parts of Australia with its ancient iron-rich soil and stunted trees. And finally, in places where there was a large swathe of rich red rocks it was what we imagine Mars to be like in person. (For an incredible interpretation of the Martian landscape, check out the sci-fi TV series 'The Expanse'.)
Top Wairoa Hut was the next on the trail and we started the day intending to blow past this one and head for the next hut. But the difficulties we had getting here meant we arrived at 2pm with not enough time to safely get to the next hut. Top Wairoa Hut and its toilet have been painted bright orange and are impossible to miss from even 700m away.
Once we got to the hut, we had a lovely wash in the nearby river, despite it being very cold! We also got to rinse out some of our more pungent clothing. Just as we were giving up hope of seeing anyone else show up for the night,  Linsey exploded in! She had done a long day from Porters Hut, and had struggled as much as we had on that last descent to this hut. So our tramily is back together!

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