Day 138: Greenstone Hut to Carey's Hut (2690-2718)

Sunday, April 16

I woke up at 6 and packed and ate in the dark. The sick hunter was sleeping in the common area. I didn't want to wake him and wanted to leave as soon as it was bright enough out to hike without a headlamp.

The four little kids woke up, and since it was Easter Sunday they were pretty excited. The oldest boy swore he saw a bunny carrying a basket at 5 am, even though his dad was adamant the Easter Bunny sleeps until 9 am.

Around 7:15, I hit the trail. The nice Kiwi couple that gave me a ride were sleeping on the porch because they preferred it to a crowded room. They were stirring as I left, se we said our goodbyes.

By 10:30, I made it to Taipo Hut and was famished, so I ate a lunch-worth of snacks. Around 11 I started walking to Boundary Hut. The plan was to try to make it to Carey Hut today, and hopefully Jen, Alex and Jeremy would be there.

As I was walking I came across a couple hiking in the opposite direction. We quickly said hello and went on our ways. Then I crossed paths with a guy who biked to Boundary Hut. He had seen my friends and the Kia Ladies there. I'd been seeing the Kia Ladies names in the Hut books for ages, so I was excited to see them. I had met them very briefly in the Richmond Ranges.

Around 2:30 I made it to Boundary Hut. As I ate snacks, the Kia Ladies jokingly told me I wasn't allowed to take off my pack, I had to keep going. They were just relaying a message from Alex, Jen and Jeremy that they planned on being at Carey's Hut. We talked for a bit while I ate snacks and I kept going.

A bit before 5 I made it to Carey's Hut. A group of four people was there and they told me my friends had written a note in the hut book. Because there were so many people at the hut already, they hiked a bit further and camped, but I wasn't sure how far they had hiked.

The group said there were still empty beds in the cabin, so I decided to stay at the hut. I didn't want to camp in the cold by myself. It was supposed to frost tonight. They were really nice and had used motor bikes or four wheel drive vehicles to get to the hut. Their names were Abby, Greg, Luke and Stretch.

As I unpacked my backpack and set up my bunk, I realized I had left my puffy at Greenstone Hut. I couldn't believe how forgetful I'd been these last few days. Forgetting things on the trail is something I very rarely do.

At dusk a group of three, Dave, Fran and Te Rina, showed up without tents. I told them I could set up my tent, but Greg and Luke seemed excited to have an excuse to use their tents. They both had really cold winter weather tents and sleeping bags.

We all talked for awhile and as I got more and more tired I talked from the comfort of my sleeping bag. Dave, Fran and Te Rina were driving back to Queenstown tomorrow, so I might go with them, get a jacket, and hitch to Te Anu. Around where their car was, I had originally been planning to hitch into Te Anau to resupply before continuing on the trail, but I figured I could get a better and cheaper jacket in Queenstown.

I fell asleep at some point and woke up a few hours later. They were all outside around a bonfire drinking. It was so nice of them to go outside when I fell asleep! It may have been warmer with the bonfire too. I'm not sure. I quickly drifted back off to sleep.