Day 115: Double Hut to Potts River Carpark (2277-2315)

Friday, March 24

There was a mouse or two in the hut last night, but nothing too terrible. We all woke up around 7, ate, packed, signed the hut book and hit the trail a little after 8. Today we planned to do even more kilometerage than yesterday, but the elevation and trail was supposed to be easier.

The trail started as a four wheel drive track through the valley. It eventually brought us to a road where we had a 4.4 kilometer road walk to the next section of trail.

After about a kilometer on the road, a really nice man named Peter drove by and stopped to say hi. We talked for a bit and he offered to let us sit in the back of his truck for a ride to the trailhead. He owns farmland all around the area and had three sheep dogs kenneled in the truck bed with us. We pet them for the couple of kilometers we were in the truck. They were really nice and must get to herd a lot. Peter said he has sheep, cows and deer on his land.

Peter kindly dropped us off right at the trailhead and we said goodbye. Now we had about 21 kilometers left to go. We walked a bit and stopped for a snack break.

As we continued in the mostly flat and open trail, we saw some black and white birds. I'm not sure if they were magpies or black and white paradise ducks.

There was a really steep downhill to Lake Clearwater, but it wasn't too steep to be dangerous. We just had to be a bit more careful than we had to be on the flat sections. As we walked we saw the village of Lake Clearwater on the far side of the lake, but we followed the trail and went the opposite direction.

Eventually we started seeing a big river, the Rangitata. A bit more walking and we made it to the Potts River Carpark. It was about 5:30. Pretty good for about 38 kilometers (minus the few we got a ride from Peter)! We had plans to meet Wayne there first thing tomorrow morning for a shuttle around the river.

As we wandered around to find the best place to camp it became really clear that a lot of people camp here. There was an animal trap near the trail that smelled like a dead animal, so we camped under some trees closer to the parking lot. I prefer camping under trees because my tent always ends up less dewy in the morning.

Once our tents were pitched, we all got water for tonight and tomorrow and made dinner. Then Sam and Lauren let me squeeze in their tent so we could watch an episode of the West Wing.

When I camp off the trail, I usually dig a hole for the next morning. When I went searching for a good spot, there were pieces of toilet paper scattered all over. I wish people would pack it out. Maybe in a few years they'll have a drop toilet at the parking lot. I have a feeling lots of people stay here to wait out a high river or to wait for a hitch.

A little after 9 pm we went to bed. We had to have our tents packed up and be ready for our ride with Wayne early tomorrow.