Pelorus Track

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  Pelorus Bridge, New Zealand
Saturday, November 10, 2007

We set off on Wednesday morning from Chris and Anna's place for a two night "tramp". Our day started late, and then after driving down a gravel road for a while, we missed our turnoff, and ended up where the road was crossed by a river, and was unpassable. This was when we turned around, and we realized we had done wrong. Eventually, Dave Amanda and I got on the trail, even if we were a bit delayed.

Our first hour on the trail brought us to the Emerald Pools, where we met 12 people, all in their sixties who had hiked in. After a short chat, we headed down to the river for a swim, and when we retreated from the icy waters we were attacked by the treacherous sandflies. We could barely throw down our salami and cheese lunch before hastily getting our socks and boots and climbing up the hill, where they abated. 4 more hours of hiking, crossing swing bridges, all along the Pelorus River which holds true to the "Emerald" colors. What gorgeous water! Then an arduous uphill climb for the last hour, and we reached the Captain's Creek hut. We spent the night with a Jin, Japanese guy whom was hiking the same trek.

When we woke in the morning and started frying up the bacon and eggs we had carried in, Jin could not believe his eyes, and to reassure himself in the future, he took a picture. Full bellies, and water bottles and we started, UPHILL! A short day, only three hours, but with forty pounds on your back climbing 2,000 feet is quite the chore. Once we got to the hut, and had some lunch, Amanda was hell bent to summit the mountain, and I wasn't. I was reading my chapter when they took off, which suited me just fine. I ended up finding a great lookout which they bypassed, and nearly got the same view for 1/6th the hiking. I was relaxing in my bare feet, carving my new walking stick when they returned from the journey. Another fantastic meal of veggies for dinner, and Jin was even more amazed we had carried all of it, but didn't resist when we asked if he would like one. Seeing as he was on his fourth PB&J, I couldn't blame him.

On day 3 we were hiking along a defunct railway which used to be pulled by horses, all the way down from the pass, to Nelson. It was a gorgeous hike, and quite easy for most of the day. Then at the end we were heading straight down, running on shaky ground on even shakier, and sore legs. When we got to the road we caught up to a woman whom we had met up at the Rock's Hut, and she said farewell, and headed up the road away from town. Just as we were discussing how far it was to town, a car stopped, and she popped her head out of the passenger side to offer us a ride. Thank the heavens! It was a long way to town, and we were starving. Pizza, beer, and then a bus ride back to our cars, and the adventure was over.