Day 141: Te Anau to Aparima Hut (2772-2794)

Wednesday, April 19

I woke up around 7:30 to call home and eat breakfast. Jen and Jeremy came and ate breakfast too. We all packed up and said goodbye to Alex, Spencer and Shaida.

A little after 9 we walked out to hitchhike back to the trail. There were some girls trying to get a ride. They had been out for an hour and a half, but they looked so solemn and expectant of a ride. I think I'd stop for most hitchhikers in New Zealand, but I didn't really think I'd stop for them. Smiles really help.

We walked a decent bit past them and tried hitching. Jen and I tried to smile really big and dance a bit so people would know we were friendly. It took a bit longer than it usually takes to get a hitch, about a half hour. A really nice father and daughter from Delaware picked us up and dropped us off at the road where the trail starts back up. He was visiting her while she was working and traveling in New Zealand.

The trail was initially a gravel road walk through a farm. The owners gave TA hikers permission to walk there. While we were walking we got to see farm workers move cattle. The sheep dogs really kept them on the path they were supposed to walk. It was amazing watching sheep dogs intimidate the big cows into going the right way.

Lower Princhester Hut was right after the farm. We signed the hut book and left a little after 12. The trail started pretty muddy and then alternated between tussock and nice forest. I fell a few times and got a bit muddy, but I really enjoyed the forest sections. It was beautiful.

On a steep, muddy downhill on tussock I fell pretty well. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to get up, but I was fine. Jen and I talked the last 6 or so kilometers and walked the last few hundred feet to Aparima Hut in the dark. We knew we were close to the hut so it wasn't a problem.

Jeremy and the Kia Ladies were there. They ladies had an amazing warm fire going. It was so nice to have the warmth while I set up my bed and made dinner.

While someone was out brushing their teeth or going to the toilet, they noticed a light off in the distance. We really thought it was a hiker and wanted to make sure they found the hut ok, but then someone realized it was hunters spotlighting. They drive around in a four wheeler or car with a big spotlight and try to spot a deer. I'm just glad they didn't see any of us and think we were animals.

After figuring that out, we all went to bed with the nice warm fire going.