Distance today: 35.4km
Distance total: 3048.8km
Time hiked: 10h 21min
Time total: 927h 19min
We arrive at the carpark at 9. As Simon and his girlfriend still need to sort out a few things, I say goodbye and follow the wide, well benched Greenstone Track through the lovely Beech forest towards Greenstone Hut. As Boundary Hut, my today's destination, is still around 10 hours away, I push quite a bit on the easy trail and only stop for s quick chat, when I meet a NOBO, who is usually hiking in Huaraches. Unfortunately he is not wearing them now, as he is headed into town. Would have loved to see them!
After Greenstone Hut, the boggy Mavora Walkway climbs steadily up through Beech forest and Tussock over a saddle (marking the border between Otago and Southland) to a flat. My hope of easy travel once on the flat vanishes into thin air: Wet and badly marked make it rather unpleasant and slow going. Especially the last part between Taipo and Boundary Hut, where the track sidles above the flat on an unformed track. The rain, which starts two hours prior reaching the hut doesn't help to boost my mood.
With Boundary Hut already visible right across the river, it's another hard 300 meters detour through head high, dripping grass to a swingbridge.
An SUV and a car are parked in front of the hut and I fear the four bunk hut is going to be full. Pitching the tent in the pouring rain - what a nightmare!
Luckily only a father and his son on a fishing trip are in the hut. After hanging all my wet stuff and cooking dinner, it's straight into bed.
Write a comment