Waiau - Magdalene hut

24km 7hrs 15min. Frosty to blue skies.

The trail today felt easier than yesterday. I suspect that it's because 1, our feet get didn't get any wetter than they started (damp), and 2, the terrain was very easy but varied. I think walking down the same valley with the shifting mountains as the most noticeable change in scenery makes the day seem a bit long. Unfortunately I seem to have tweaked my right calf or the tendons that attach it to my ankle so that was bugging me a bit.

A highlight of the day was at one point where about 5 bellbirds, including some young ones having a raucus party right above the path. They seemed absolutely oblivious to us.

We got to Boyle flat hut about 2pm. However we didn't have a booking so if we wanted to stay we would have to camp, there was another hut 1.5 hours further down the track and we we still feeling relatively fresh so we carried on to the 6 bed Magdalene hut.

On the way we interrupted a gaggle of Canada geese that were camped out on the path. Once we got to the hut, there were a couple of young girls. They were very friendly.

The little bit had a window facing west which captured the setting sun and turned the room into a sauna, which rapidly undid all the good work immersing myself in the stream had done.Leggi altro