On the big move

Finally after a bit a hassle I decided to go down the south island, along the "Te Araroa".
I got food for the next 10days and tried to get to the start. But hitchhiking out of Nelson was harder as I expected! In the late afternoon I finally got to my start point at the "Pelorus" bridge. Where I found out that the hut is 8km in but there is another 13km on the road first to do- read the track notes carefully!
I ended up camping out just before the "Pelorus River Track" starts. Already 4 hours behind on the first day!
Along the beautiful and clear river the way got me to "Middy Creek Hut" from there it was just a 600m climb up to "Rocks Hut"
The next day I went up and down till I finally got to a clearing which I followed all the way down to "Hacket Hut" where I continue on the "Mt Richmond Alpine Track". That's where the fun part started, first a 900m climb up right into the clouds, just to find out that the water tap is broken! So back track a bit to get some water and up again but at least I could find a nice log for the fire as well! The next day didn't looked to good in the morning hours. But once I got up to the "Mt Starvell" the sun came out and offered excellent views around. This day I basically just walked a half circle around the rim which better views all the way.
I called it a day and saved the climb over "Mt Rintbul"(1731m) for tomorrow! For breakfast I climbed ~600m up to the "Little Mt Rintbul"(1643m). To steeply drop down for 250m afterward which took me an hour to get down there! It was as insane as it looked like from the other side. Up to the peak again and the steep down along a scare gravel slope. By lunchtime all the fun was done, just over one more mountain and a little down along the rim to the "Tarn Hut". The next day got me down to the Valley floor to follow the “Wairoa“ river uphill, again. Eight river crossings and lots of rain later I arrived at the bright orange "Top Wairoa Hut" which was covers with fog!
After heavy showers the next morning didn't turned out to bad- at least it was dry! By the time I started walking even the sun sun came thru light patches of the fog. But once I reached the first marker pole, which marked the way along a ridge line. It started hailing on me with blistering winds howling around. And half way, just traversing "Mt Ellis" it stated snowing! Covered with snow I made it finally back to the treeline. 5minutes later I was glad to have some sun again since I was in shorts! I called it a earlier day at the "Hunters Hut", just got some wood and made a fire.
The least day was a easy way out, and 13km on the road took me to "St. Arnaud".
One part done I can't wait to go on!Les mer