Wednesday 15.03.2023

• Te Araroa kilometres done: 2385.5
• Official kms: 14.8km
• Garmin kms: 15.59km
• Total time: 5:45
• Calories burned: 2278
• Body battery: 8/10
• Accommodation: Camp stream hut.
• Tent nights tally: 18
• Zero days had so far: 24

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

Last night I had decided that I’m only going to walk to Camp stream hut. This is only 6 hours walking according to DOC times & I’ve been doing most of these in 2/3rds the time. So I decided I won’t leave until 8am.

I didn’t get out of bed until 6:40 & managed to leave right on 8am, I said goodbye to my 2 hut mates & set off to climb to the highest point on the Te Araroa trail.

It was a cold start & was initially a gradual climb following the stream. As I was going up the valley & depending what side of it I was on I would either be in sun or shade.

After about 2km the real climb started & it got a bit steeper. I felt good & just pushed on through, occasionally stopping for a drink from a stream.

Within 2 hours I had reached the saddle & felt an amazing sense of achievement. Especially doing the last few days solo. The views were spectacular!

There was reception on the top so I text Antonia, she wasn’t in a meeting so called me & we chatted for a good ten minutes. It was great to hear her voice. I must have sat there in total for 40 minutes taking it all in before setting off again.

The track down started with rock hopping to get to the ridge trail on the right. Once there it was an amazing walk with amazing views all the way down.

It wasn’t long before I was on the 4wd track & had read in the trail notes to fill up with water at the stream 700 metres before the hut as there was no water source at the hut. I filled up with nearly 5 litres of water (I’m not running out!) & walked the last 700 metres with nearly 5kg of extra weight.

Arriving at the hut just before 2pm I sat down for a late lunch before unpacking & getting organised.

This hut is tiny! But will be a good stop for the rest of today & tonight.