Wangapeka Track Day 3 – Stone Hut
So there is sun in New Zealand after all! I was beginning to think maybe the sun just didn’t shine in this corner of the world. But today I woke up to the blue sky and scattered clouds and for the first time in days the sun came out!
Got my gear together and left Taipo Hut this morning. Even though I was thrilled over the no-rain hiking conditions, I was still feeling really tired from yesterday and was having a tough time getting out of first gear. It took 4 hours to get to the first hut; on the way I met 3 guys heading in (all from Germany), but those were the only people I saw all day. Got to Helicopter Flat Hut at about 1pm and I decided to give in to the fatigue and lay down and have a nap. Once in my warm sleeping bag I felt much better and snoozed until about 3pm. When I woke up and looked outside and the sun and blue skies were still out I thought yeah, you’ve gotta keep going and take advantage of this good weather. The other deciding factor is that I was running low on food and couldn’t really afford to spend the night there. So I continued on another 4 hours to Stone Hut.
It was a pleasant walk on a relatively dry trail which was such a welcome after all the rain. Arrived here about 7:30pm to find 3 Swiss people here and their stuff scattered everywhere all over the hut. Must admit I’m disappointed since I was hoping to have the hut all to myself. Oh well. I’ll be asleep soon anyway so it really doesn’t matter. Must get an early start tomorrow so I have a decent chance of getting a ride out to the main road. I’m tired. Going to bed now.
Feeling the sun for the first time in days
One of the many swing bridges on the track
Water, Moss, and Rock
Add comment December 18th, 2002