Sunday, February 17, 2008

Makarora

So i find myself at a food drop again. amazing how if you just keepputting one foot in front of the other and you get there... somewhere. and that place is here for now, 70 days down and 40 to go.

I'm so loving being on such an adventure as this one and I feel privalaged that I have the opportunity to be here and experiencing he journey and all that it entails. The diversity of the landscape keeps blowing me away. I'm travelling really well at the moment just appreciating the space that I'm in both internally and externally.

The Last section was full of rocks and lost the trees to a little bit north of here and have found them again. but by going south the glaciers receed and forests takeover. Since last writing I travelled over bush streamand dropped into the Dobson river (rather up close andpersonalwith hard goingalpinescrub and trees) and then ahuge alk down the valley, up the Hopkins river and into the huxley,over broderick pass and into the lansborough. The huxley to here has just been beautiful,just so many beautifulplaces,as well as a rather hairy crossing on the landsborough almost went swimming but held on. Somemay think that once I have done this trip new zealand wil be out of my system.. not at all I just have a headfull of new dreams for the future.

Just checked my email and there were a number oflovely e mails from people out there, thanks for all your words of support,encouragement and love- they are appreciated

about to go into lands I;ve travelled before. It feels like I'm going home

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Mt Cook

So on the 4th Feb. I arrived at Mt Cook. It’s been an extrodinary section, no trees, bouldery riverbeds, high passes and amazing scenery. I find myself feeling pretty privileged to be doing the trip that I’m doing and being where I am. It’s pretty satisfying to follow one’s dream.


In some ways it’s been pretty hard, tough ground at times (feel like I’ve just walked on rocks since Arthur’s pass) and I’ve discovered that managing my fatigue is the biggest challenge of the trip, but ‘m learning to pace myself and stop when is needed. Weather days are always welcomed.


For those of you interested the final route was: Up the waimakari and white river and over white col into burnett stream, down the Wilberforce and up moa stream and over into boundary basin, dropped into the south mathias and up west mathias to go over observation col into cattle stream and onto the rakia, over butler saddle and down the Lawrence to Erewhon station with amazing hospitality from Colin and Christine. From there crossed the Clyde and Havelock rivers and the up Murphy’s stream to go over into the McAuley river, up to upper Tindall stream and into the north branch, across the godley up the rankin and over into cass river and then up over alias pass into the Murchison, some moraine bashing on the tasman and into Unwin Hut.


And so now I think that I’ve passed the halfway point and so far have managed to walk over 700km and climber approx 21,000 meters since the journeys beginnings.


This journey space is quite an extrodinary one to be living in just day after day of simple pack/walking living, and a trip that feels that it never ends. I’m loving it. I’ve had my friend Jason with me since Arthur’s pass, it’s been great to have him along and time now to travel on my own again. Of course with Max the summit monkey.