Te Araroa Trail Thru Hike Day 67
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 11 ก.พ. 2025
- Te Araroa Trail Thru Hike
January 14th, 2022
Day 67, 13.7 Miles
Well it seems we no longer know how to wake up early.
We were packed up and stepping at the bright and early time of 9:26am. Why did we sleep in so late, why did we laze around in the tent for awhile? Don’t know, just who we are now as hikers it seems. The “push” mentality is still there but it seems to have been buried by the slow mentality lately, and that’s fine.
The morning began with a race against the “mist.” We climbed out of the table top we had camped on and watched the growing mist consume where we had camped.
A somewhat steep climb later we were on top of Travers Saddle with OUTSTANDING views all around. This is why we came to New Zealand, this type of hiking is what makes our spirits soar.
Sitting on the hill on the backside we were in no rush, even though we had planned to get over two passes today.
Lazily after watching some views and doing “people responsibilities” with cell service, we instantly began the knee crushing descent back down the other side. Gorgeous views abundant all along the way.
Taking lunch at West Sabine Hut, we dried out our gear in the sun, and ate lunch inside chatting with some Aussie hikers and laughing at their “Dracula Koalo Bear” stories.
No rest for the lazy… well that’s not true, there is a lot of rest for us being lazy, but anyway we had to keep stepping.
The ascent up to Blue Lake Hut was filled with many a river roller coaster mile. Washouts, avalanche fields, mud, rocks and many roots was the flavor of the miles.
At the hut we followed some orange tape to a spring, filled up water and began the ascent in earnest to Waiau Pass. Oh boy, did we underestimate this one.
The ascent from the hut started out steep and put us at the base of Blue Lake, it was “easy” walking. Then there was an questionable trail straight up loose scree that instantly went back down after some sketchy descents to Blue Lake.. that part was hard.
Then, oh boy, then came the official climb up to the pass. Honestly, probably the most consistently steep pass we have climbed yet in New Zealand, even including the Richmond Range, it was nar!
At the top it was 7:40 and we began the bouncing and actual rock climbing down the backside.
Finding a camp about 1/2 mile down, we watched the sunset, have grade A alpine water as our neighbor, and no sandflies.
What an absolutely wonderful day, in contention for the favorite so far!
Outstanding
I think this is your best video on the TA. That was great Class 4 rock scrambling. You did a great job filming it, and you didn't even stop filming on the wobbly bridge. 😎👍
Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely LOVED this day! By far one of the favorites if not the favorite day of the hike so far!
Can't believe you didn't stop on the shores of Blue Lake
Yup I know they zoom along but....
In the next video they say they got water from it..
We did… we walked around it, up and down near it and constantly had great views along it. We appreciated the beauty in many many many ways along it
@@HikingAmericathink you mean Lake Constance - I almost wrote Lake Constantine. Blue Lake is 5 min off trail at the hut - though you would have seen it behind you as you climbed just after the hut.
Morning, morning! :D
Bro what are you using for a mic? love this!
I know you're not keeping the sorts of pace you might usually be used to, but there ain't many TA hikers I've ever known to be over Waiau Pass in their second day in the Nelson Lakes section, that's some impressive stepping.
It was beautiful stepping through there for sure. We have accepted the fact this is a different style of hike for us and are enjoying it as such. 30 milers are still our true happy place, but we will take them as they come and not bash our head against a proverbial wall to try and get ‘em.
That was even more epic than before! (Epicer? Eppicest?)
Epicer and Epicest, yes to them both! Epic day indeed, loved loved loved it!
The thumbnail looks like Constantine’s in his happy place
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh budddddyyyyy this was my true joy, LOVED this day!
Take a drink each time Constantine says Gnar.
Too early in the morning for me to drink that much!
Gnar, here is one more 😊
Yea, you old farts seem to be needing extra rest to tackle the south island. Watch out they don't send you wheelchairs to take on some of the trail! (albeit a littlle tough on some of them hills) lol
Hahaha, for real though, please send a wheelchair or two, our knees are weak, our beard hairs are turning grey, the age is catching up to us!