Day 119 - a second wild camp
Lake Ohau lodge —-> Wild camp before the Ahuriri river 25km
I set off from the lodge this morning leaving Josh behind waiting for his ride to Twizel. He was heading to Queenstown for a few weeks to rest - I’d meet him there when I’d walk through, hopefully in 8 days time.
I was back on the Alps2Ocean track, doing my best to avoid the cyclists as they came powering along behind me.
After an hour or so I turned off the cycle track and followed a steep trail up through the forest.
I hadn’t been in proper forest since the Nelsons and it felt good to be surrounded by trees again and hear the birds as I clambered my way through.
The streams were running at full force - it didn’t bode well for the Ahuriri river crossing I was planning the following day… all the rain over the recent days had clearly sent a good body of water onto the mountain tops.
As I climbed higher I left the forest behind and came out into into high country covered in clouds. The ground absolutely sodden underfoot, I squelched along seeing none of the beautiful Lake Ohau views this track was supposed to afford.
As midday came, the wind picked up and blew some of the grey clouds out. Pockets of blue started to appear bringing glimpses of much welcome sunshine. I perched for lunch by the side of a stream propping my feet up on a rock to give them maximum access to the sun.
The afternoon’s walking was fairly simple, a gradual descent into the valley, across the usual skree slopes and tussock spikey death plants.
I was walking slower than normal - tip toeing in places to avoid the hundreds of caterpillars that lined the trail - black balls of fuzzy just lazing about in the low tussock.
As I reached the valley floor, my hopes of being able to cross the river tomorrow were dashed further as I waded through the flooded streams that covered the trail.
After my wonderful experience of wild camping last week, I had gained a heap of confidence to try again. I set the tent up amongst the trees in a make shift campspot well away from the swollen stream.
I was half way through a hot chocolate when a voice startled me from behind - it was John! He’d walked to Lake Ohau from Twizel when Josh & I cycled and set off from his campsite an hour or so after me this morning.
I was very glad of the company and especially to have a trail friend over the next few days with some tricksy river crossings up ahead. I snuggled into my sleeping bag as the light faded and the chill set in, very grateful for the layers I had carried with me.
