Achievements unlocked

4 May

840 Trail Angels to Pāhautea Hut

KM 823.2

Distance: 17.3km

Elevation: ascent 931m; descent 373m

Steps: 27,400

Time: 7:45am - 2:25pm

After a lovely night's sleep, thanks to the amazing trail angels who lent us their yard, shower, and even provided beer and salad (it's like they know TA walkers!), we woke up at normal time (5:30) but decided to take our time getting packed and ready to go. So a leisurely breakfast, but we still packed up a completely dew-saturated tent. 

The first part of today was along country roads that still afforded views out to Kawhia and Aotea Harbour. This is the sort of road that we have driven before on many a road trip, but that has inspired us to want to come back and experience at a more leisurely pace. 

We were heading toward Mount Pirongia, which again is a hike that has been on our list-of-things-we-want-to-do for a few years now. It's been on Vaughan's list for much longer than he's even known Eliza.

So we ticked off a couple of long-held desires with this trip!

The country roads ended, for us, abruptly into a steep climb at the trail head - can you see the stairs here? They lasted for just a few minutes before we were into steep, muddy climbs among tree roots. In other words, near heaven!

The climb up to the top of Mt Pirongia included lunch at a lookout spot that was too good to leave - especially in the warm, but not too hot, noontime sun. We both took a nap and had a hard time convincing ourselves to put our packs back on for the short walk to the hut.

Once we got to the actual summit of Hihikiwi (we hit Pirongia's summit tomorrow), the track has been boardwalked. At times, the boardwalk is a few meters above the ground. This is really cool because it means you're more up in the treetops than you normally get to be; but for some people the relatively narrow boardwalk could be nerve-wracking. There were multiple signs recommending you don't pass anyone along the boardwalk, except for a few wider sections with handrails.

The boardwalks definitely made for faster walking than the muddy tree roots had, so we arrived at the hut much sooner than we expected! Seen from the Hihikiwi peak, it looked so far away.

And then suddenly you pop out of forest to the hut right in front of you!

It's been a little while since we've stayed in a hut, now, and Eliza felt an immediate sense of homecoming - DoC huts have been as much our home as anywhere for months now! Unfortunately, this is one of the last huts we will stay in on our TA journey. And the views from the deck out back are just... wow.

Eliza relaxed on the sunny deck, watching over our tent as it dried in the sun and the breeze, while Vaughan went for a side-hike to The Cone, a nearby peak with good views. He re-muddied his boots but enjoyed being able to go on a trail without the weight of a pack on his back. We still have not seen any kokako, unfortunately, but we are keeping our eyes peeled.

So far tonight, as the sun is setting, it is just the four of us TA NoBo'ers in the hut (Aud and Pol are still with us, and will be for at least tomorrow as well), so it is quiet and companionable in this 20-bunk hut. It is, however, very weird staying in a hut where you can see the lights of more than one city, hear airplanes overhead, and get mobile reception (even data!)

Also, although you will all get this late, May the Fourth be with you all.