Waiopehu Hut to Nichols Hut 17 k Although part of me wishes I had stayed up to midnight last night per normal, I slept hard and could easily have slept longer. The first day of 2018 dawns with perfectly clear views down the Tararuas across Levin to the ocean. Here’s the good morning view from …
12/31 New Years Eve – 52/48 to Stay
Mikahaka Outdoor Center to Waiopehu Hut 13.6 K We wake up and have a nice civilized upright breakfast at the kitchen table with fresh blueberries in our cereal, then head out to hike the initial road section to the edge of Tararua Forest Park. It’s a quiet, cloudy morning on the road, and the first …
12/30 Monkeyflowers and Lemon Beer
Burtton Track to Mikahaka Outdoor Center 31 k The wind died at some point last night and I was surprisingly warm. We pack up early but I fall far behind all the others when I am searching interminably for a place to dig a cathole. I finally retrace my steps to where big tires have …
12/29 Livin’ On A Prayer
ZigZag & Lee’s to Grassy Knoll on the Burton Track 30 k The alarm goes off, and we manage to pack our backpacks full to the brims, and still close them. Miraculous! We are treated to another lovely breakfast, and while ZigZag takes Mario and Peach to the trailhead, Lee finds an old abandoned pair …
12/28 The Layover
0 k We woke up this morning fully intending to leave. Honest. I get up early enough to take a shower before anyone else is awake. It’s not really an effort- even with the comfortable bed, I’m still woken by the light of the sunrise. I think it’s kind of neat to be on such …
12/27 A Magical Home
Mount Lee’s Reserve to Zig Zag & Lee’s 36 k The morning dawns early- I know we passed the summer solstice, but are the nights still getting shorter?! It sure feels like it. We roadwalk to Fielding, and Prana reads out crossword clues as we go. At one point Bro has to stop and check …
12/26 A Bull Market
Koitiata Campground to Mount Lee’s Reserve 40 k We all have the hiker hobble this morning, and gimp through our morning chores. The sky is threatening rain, and the water that is available tastes like rotten algae, but I’m grateful that it’s not raining this moment and that there is drinkable water at all. There …
12/25 What Makes Christmas
Whanganui HP to Koitiata 36 k “Hey, you there! Do you know what day it is?” “Oieh?” “Today! Do you know what day it is?” “Why, it’s Christmas!” Merry New Zealand Christmas! The birds sing the morning awake, and I make coffee and call my parents. We get to talk for an hour! Breakfast is …
12/24 Christmas Eve with the Trail Family
Hipango Park to Whanganui Holiday Park 20 k The earliest river morning yet. As much as I prefer rafting to canoeing, I do have to say packing up the canoes is pretty darn fast. When we get to the dock with the barrels, I notice how high the high tide water mark is from last …
12/23 Messing About In Boats
Downes Hut to Hipango Park 25 k Another early start puts us on the water during that magical hour of simplicity and bewitchment. As it is the morning, I am back to loving canoeing. The day cycles like this: the morning is beautiful & easy= I love canoeing. Eventually both my and Prana’s attention spans …
muddy shoe memoirs 