Sunday 05.03.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 2218
• Official kms: 13km
• Garmin kms: 14.42km
• Total time: 4:44
• Calories burned: 1740
• Body battery: 6/10
• Accommodation: A frame hut.
• Tent nights tally: 16
• Zero days had so far: 22

https://givealittle.co.nz/fundraiser/walking-te-araroa-3000km-for-the-key-to-life

Track me live here:

https://aus-share.explore.garmin.com/curtiss

Today I am starting off at 9am. Ladina & Alina have decided to do a zero in Arthur’s pass as they don’t want to walk in the rain today. They will catch up to me by Wednesday.

Marko arrived at 8:45am & we all said our goodbyes to the girls as they are walking up to the Sanctuary backpackers. Antonia, Matt, Marko & myself then drove to Klondyke corner where I was dropped off.

Matt has lent me his hiking poles for the rest of the journey as mine are problematic. Once they left I started my wet & cold road walk all the way to Cora Lyn. This was 7km & I started regretting setting off solo today as the weather is absolutely miserable!

Another kilometre up the road I came to Bealey hut, a little 6 bunk hut not far off the main road, there were two girls here that had stayed last night but weren’t sure whether they would walk in the rain or not. I stayed for a good half an hour to get some warmth & stay out of the rain.

I messaged Antonia as I was already missing her, she messaged back to say she’s going to take next Monday off so we can do a zero together on Sunday! I almost cried, I was so happy! Something to really look forward to.

This got me pumped to do the climb up & over Lagoon saddle to get to the A frame hut. It was still raining but the first few kilometres were in trees so I have some reprieve from the rain.

Once out in the open however was a different story! It was back to being rain & cold. Once I reached about 1200 metres above sea level the rain turned to snow. It was beautiful but chilly!

I continued on until I reached the hut around 2pm & spent the rest of the afternoon/evening trying to keep warm. There is no heating in this hut as it’s a basic shelter. With it being 2 degrees inside I was tucked in my sleeping bag for most of the afternoon.

After dinner & a hot cup of tea the only thing I could do was get back in the sleeping bag, try to stay warm & go to sleep, hopefully i warm up in the morning!