Hollyford Track Day 1 – Lake Alabaster Hut

January 10th, 2003 at 12:00am

19.5 km today, all flat, easy walking through the Hollyford Valley. The start of the track was 8 km (5 miles) down the road from Gunn’s Camp where I stayed last night, but lucky for me I didn’t have to walk it. Instead I got a lift from a Swiss guy who kindly offered to drive me in while his wife and daughter were taking showers this morning. I spent a few hours talking with them last night actually ? they spent 11 months travelling around the US some years ago and went to all the National Parks. This trip they are in NZ for 5 months and are travelling with their 6-year old daughter which I think is pretty cool. Anyway it was really nice to get a lift and not have to walk the 5 miles of road before even starting the tramp.

I got on the track at 10am and made it to the first hut just after 12 noon. The trail itself is nice and the Hollyford Valley is really pretty, with snow-capped peaks on either side, but the weather today has been showers and is now up to a heavy rain, so I wasn’t really able to see the peaks because they were in the clouds. Also I’m feeling a bit tired from the last several days of hiking and was in low gear all morning. After the first hut it was only another 3 hours to Lake Alabaster Hut where I’m staying for the night.

Along the way I met the hut warden on the trail doing some trail work and we had a bit of a chat. I told him about the 159 pilot whales that beached themselves on Stewart Island 2 days ago which is the big news here in NZ. He, being out in the bush 10 days on/ 4 days off, hadn’t heard anything about it. After that I continued on, passing a few people heading out on the way, and arrived at the hut around 3pm. Luckily, luckily, luckily I was the only one here!! The hut warden told me that he had 14 people here last night and I did not want to walk into a full hut of people, especially after the unfriendly bunch that were on the Hump Ridge Track.

A little while later a Japanese guy showed up and so far it looks as if we’re the only 2 here for the night which is cool with me. We’ve been getting eaten alive by sandflies though and I have to admit that the whole sandfly thing is getting pretty old. I’m tired of getting eaten up all day long! It seems to be either the sandflies, the rain, or the pollen in NZ, but it’s always at least one of them. Tomorrow calling for more rain.

~ ~ A sign in a shop window in Karamea says:

SANDFLY CURE:

Purchase a bottle of good quality whiskey
Rub liberally on arms and legs
Dust sand on skin whilst still wet with whiskey
The sandflies come along, get drunk,
and throw rocks at themselves.

Gunns Camp in Lower Hollyford Valley

Morning in the Hollyford Valley

Images of Fiordland

Entry Filed under: Hiking/Trekking,Hollyford,New Zealand