Day 142: Aparima Hut to Telford Campsite (2794-2815)

Thursday, April 20

My alarm went off early and I tried to quickly shut it off before it woke anyone up. Muriel woke up around 7, so I got up then too. After eating breakfast, packing, and saying goodbye to the Kia Ladies, I left. It was around 8:30 or so. Jen and Jeremy were still at the hut, but I knew they'd catch up to me.

All morning it felt like I was in a rain forest. It was overcast all day (but never rained) and the trees were covered in bright green moss. After a few hours Jen and Jeremy caught up to me and we made it to Lower Wairaki Hut in the early afternoon. It was a nice hut and we ate lunch there. I left a bit before them and saw Muriel coming up to the hut just as I was about to head out. We talked for a bit. The three of them were planning to stay at the hut tonight so I probably won't see them again. We're all so close to the end now and they're planning on finishing around May 1st.

Jeremy and Jen quickly caught up to me on the long uphill after the hut. When the forest ended the views were amazing. Jeremy pointed out that we could see the ocean. I had to check concentrate to see it. It was hard to believe we were so close to the end.

The downhill from there was nice. There were lots of rocks, a bit of scree and a bit of tussock. It was nice and easy. I made it to the campsite around 6 or so. It was dusk and Jen and Jeremy already had their tents up. They had put their tents downhill from the drop toilet and uphill from the big part of the river. It was a perfect spot.

After setting up my tent, I walked down to the river to get water for tonight and tomorrow. It was running over lots of rocks so I didn't filter it. Then I made dinner and sat out with Jen and Jeremy to eat. The stars were beautiful.

We talked for a bit and I was ready for bed. Jen and Jeremy might go a different way than me tomorrow. Since I took the unplanned zero day in Te Anau, I was a day behind and trying to meet Marjolein in Invercargill. She is going to finish a few days before me but wait around. Plus the little section I'm thinking of skipping has some pretty strict daylight-only hiking sections I don't want to have to worry about. There's no way I can get through them both in a single day worth of daylight. Maybe earlier in the summer it would have been possible, but not now.