• Spring 2025 Trip
    The beginning of the trail. Looked like we were entering a dark forest.
    That perspective changed after the first few hundred meters.The trail was unsheltered for the entire path.That (up left) is our destination. Looks easy enough...🤔That box is an artfully (?) camouflaged toilet.After a little sandwich break, we prepare for the 'unmaintained' remainder of the trail.Once again reminded of our size relative to the nature around us.The Summit!!360 view from the top1'Proof of Life' pic @ the summit. 🤣Commencing the return trip.Seeing what's behind him, the forward path wasn't much easier on the knees going fwd.Back through 'the forest' -- means we're (finally) almost done!Aerial perspective of our journey. (That's Queenstown @ the bottom.)

    Ben Lomond Summit hike

    March 20 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 57 °F

    7 miles return
    Elevation gain: 3,372ft
    Duration: ~5.5hrs
    Weather: perfect
    Experience: priceless.

    Those are J9's notes. Mark's thoughts:
    We had perfect weather and a big challenge. Normally, we like hikes under 1,500 vertical feet at varied distances (2-8 miles). This hike was 3,372 vertical elevation with a distance of 7 miles. The peak elevation was 5k. The hike was hard for me, j9 did much better. The first 2/3 to Ben Lemond Saddle was not so bad. Then, we started the harder section to the Summit. I had to stop every 10 minutes for a rest. My heart beat was around 130 bpm, but would not drop after a rest. J9 heart rate was much higher even though she wasn't struggling. After reaching the summit, I noticed we were the only two other people over 30 years old, as all the older wiser hikers stopped at the saddle stop. The view was fantastic and possibly our first summit. It makes you feel alive to, on occasion, hike a trail of this vertical. The walk down was easier than we thought with the large rocks and loose stones. We are so blessed that we are healthy enough to do this hike. Obviously, I will need to be on the step master more often.Read more