Hello everyone. Kei te ora ahau! Yes, I am alive! ....which honestly is somewhat of a surprise after nine days on rugged slippery terrain scrambling and rock climbing, crossing slips and avalanches, avoiding bogs, climbing over windfallen trees, and crossing swing bridges which rock and bounce with every foot fall. The river voices were ever present.
I have been following the
Leslie-Karamea Track and the
Wangapeka Track over to Little Wanganui, a village on the West Coast of New Zealand (Sth. Island). Below are some of my favourite photos.
Traversing the Kahurangi National Park one passes primarily along the dark soggy side of the mountains where the vegetation is drenched and sunlight barely sifts through the canopy. One's feet are permanently wet. The terrain is rugged and steep with many ascents and descents to the creeks and rivers. Level track and tussock covered flats are a relief.
Gold diggers once prospected along the rivers in these mountains. In the 1930s, during the Great Depression many folk headed into unchartered areas bushwhacking and carving out tracks in search for gold. The NZ government provided the prospectors with food and other supplies. .
Highlights:
*'conversing' with birds. Seeing a Kea for the first time in its natural habitat; listening to Wekas herald the dawn; A Toutouwai pecking at my toes...
*Lighting the fire in a rustic cabin; sleeping in a duck-down sleeping bag; sharing tea with a retired DOC hunter, listening to his stories...
*Anticipation. Dreaming of day's end: cooking up a pot of polenta milk pudding, hot, dense with sultanas, nuts and powdered ginger - that first mouthful, ah, bliss...
* at trail's end having a hot shower for the first time in 9 days; machine washing stinky gear; jumping into a cosy double bed with white sheets, 4 pillows and a thick fluffy duvet; cake, Fish and Chips with a live salad...Yes!
Leslie-Karamea Track
Leslie-karamea Track
Day 4 Thor Hut. Leslie Karamea Track
A gymnastic moment. Windfallen trees. Leslie Karamea Track.
Day 6 approaching the Taipo River. Wangapeka Track
Day 7. Saddle Lake. Little Wanganui Saddle. Wangapeka Track
Piwakawaka
Day 9. Looking back. Little Wanganui River. Wangapeka Track