Well howdy. It's been a few weeks now in NZ. So far my only complaint would be for the sandflies. Those buggers really do suck! I don't have much time to write, so please excuse any misspellings or goofy wording. I have 9 minutes and 4 seconds, three seconds... left... anyway. I started my travels again after a few days in Christchurch relaxing and spending time with my friend Natalie (former Devils Postpile Ranger and current Antarctica fuels person or Fuely) who was back in Christchurch for a few days, by backpacking through Arthurs Pass. At first i thought up a great idea to walk from Arthurs pass over a hike called the three passes to the west coast of NZ, but large amounts of snow, a stupidly heavy pack and me just hiking/climbing (ice axe and crampons needed) what would be very technical terrain all added up to make me realize that was a bad idea. So instead I enjoyed walking around, meeting some new friends in the backcountry huts and enjoying the sites. I'll continue the tale under each photo.
Beginning of the Arthurs Pass few days. Pouring rain and high river crossings meant I was soaked!
Here are some of the friends I mentioned. That's Biana, Zev and Amit (Arez was in the other room). This is one of the things about NZ and simply traveling alone that is so much fun. YOu meet all sorts of people and these guys were great! I learned a new Israeli card game or really a russian card game played by Israelies, called Durack or at least that's how it sounds. I spent three days with these characters, enjoying the hike and eventual good weather.
There ya go... the good weather.
I left my new Israili friends to hike up this valley. See those clouds and snow in the background... that's the three passes hike i mentioned... yeah, i started to doubt the intelligence of that idea about this time...
So as my doubts rose about the pass, my excitement at least for hiking took off! This was an incredible meadow I had the extreme pleasure of walking through for several miles on my way to my campsite. I was the only person out there for hours and hours and hours....
I nearly lost my mind walking through these gorgeous fields of lupin. They were everywhere and so fragrent. If the wind was right i could smell the flowers hundreds of feet before I got to them. After leaving the meadow the hiking just mostly was in river bed and steep hillsides. It got long and tiring and my pack amazingly seemed to be getting heavier... I didn't get to a hut until about 7 that evening having started my day of hiking around 8am... yeah that was a long one.
The next day I was pretty much decided i woun't try the three passes hike, but I had read about a cable car just around the corner from my hut I wanted to check out. This looks like a great idea right? Well i thought so... well until I actually stepped in and i started moving across the river. It stopped not even halfway across. I then took a closer look at the rusty cables and the long uphill battle I'd have to fight by hooking some sort of wrench to the cable and pulling the car the rest of the way... i decided to focus my efforts on getting back to the side of the river i started on and head back to the trail head. It was back at the cabin before I left that I met a couple who actually ended up inviting me to their wedding in VietNam once the learned that's where I was heading in not too long. Unfortunately the wedding was after my flight home... another lesson in why one should never book a return flight until they absolutely must return...
Beautiful and cold swimming hole on the way out of the valley... sandflies do not encourage one to skinny dip and sunbathe for long...
After hiking around I made it to the west coast and a little town called Hokitika. This is where I spent Christmas. It was such a lovely and relaxing place to be. This was me Christmas day.
In Hokitika on Christmas like everywhere in NZ everything shuts down. Everything so really even eating becomes an issue. A local church decided to fix this problem by providing a travelers/community christmas lunch. It was such an awesome and love filled afternoon. Everyone was so friendly! I met a great family that invited my traveling friend and myself to their house to spend that evening with their extended family.
They showed us the Hokitika gorge...
Here's Steve and Helen. Great people!
and Brian who decided that water was just too inviting to pass up... i was thinking the same but didn't have the proper swimming attire...
Brian and I along with Steve and Helens family out canoeing on a lake next to their lake house. What an amazing eve!
Here's that great family i mentioned.
I don't have time to go into detail describing the rest of the photos... darn free library internet... so enjoy and I'll try to update soon.
Fox Glacier and me
Beautiful rocky beach.
I'm about to take another plunge into a wonderfully cold lake :) amazing
Camp for the night... serene
Xavi liked it too
Now i'm off to enjoy a folk festival in the hills above Dunedin for a good 4 days or so. Wish I had my horns with me, but i think i'll still enjoy dancin and relaxin as i listen to some good ol' pickin and a strummin. Happy New Year!
:) !!!!!!!
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