Day 122: Lower Wairaki Hut to Birchwood Station

Distance today: 29.8km

Distance total: 3179.1km

Time hiked: 9h 52min

Time total: 966h 42min

As expected: on my downsloping camping spot I had a pretty awful night and can't wait to leave the hut with the first light.

100 meters into the hike, I walk past this great, wide and flat camp spot. Bummer. Someone could have told me yesterday, while they where observing me looking for a suitable spot. But I guess they didn't notice the spot,  with their thoughts already at the hut. Can't blame them.

Climbing up through beechforest is hard work. My legs are tired. Yesterday's massive hike and not having eaten a proper dinner I guess.

Anyway, I eventually climb the unnamed hill. 1024 meter above sea level. The last time above the 1000 meter mark!

I'm stunned by the view. Not the snowy mountains to my right (I've seen enough of them) but the view to my left: The sea. Even Bluff! So cool! Far away, but yet... So close!

Surprisingly steep is the initial descent. To be honest I wasn't expecting any more rock scrambling. After the rocky part it's back onto grassland to Telford Creek, which is easy cross.

The afternoon is mostly easy going and rather uninteresting along shit covered farmroads and an undulating gravel road through massive Mt Linton Station. Another short hike through paddocks takes me to Birchwood Station Hut. A pimped hut with a hot shower and power outlets. 20 Dollars a night. Money well invested as heavy rain is predicted for tonight.

Surprisingly I have the ten bunk hut for my self. I will sleep well tonight.

On a side note: the times stated on the trailheads are way off. 

Today, I hiked slightly less than 10 hours, breaks included. According to the sign it should have taken me 17 hours. 7 hours faster and I took it rather easy. No idea how they came up with this time.