Ted's Hiking World Along Fern Burn
near Wanaka

March 7, 2017

As near I can tell, a 'burn' is an old Scottish term for a small or intermittent creek.  That sounds about right, because most of this area has Scottish origins.  A asked the hostel clerk about it; but he had to look it up himself.  He considered this a good question, though, because there are lots of burns around here.

Because the weather report had projected a colder day, Dave and I have frittered the morning away.  Finally, at noon we head over to the Park Headquarters for some more ideas; and the ranger suggests a trail that's just a few miles out of town.  What she didn't bother to mention was the following, which I later found on a web page:

Ordinarily, those daunting specs would not put us off; but in light of the lateness of our start, we surely would have opted for something else.

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On the trail at 1 p.m.

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The first attraction is a salt lick, for the sheep

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I see a trail up on the hillside

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Those tall plants are interesting
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Those short sheep are interested

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Oh, boy!

Presently we plunge into a deep forest in the canyon beside the creek.

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Cool and refreshing

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Not so refreshing

In fact, this up-and-down stuff becomes the norm, with tree roots being utilized by hand and foot alike in places.

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At least we won't have to get wet

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In places, this is just about the steepest trail in my experience.  Coming down will not be easy, especially through the muddy sections that we just surmounted.

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Many rest stops are required

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Eventually, the canyon opens up.  Perhaps the worst is over?  Nope.  The upgrade remains relentless.  At the border of the Stack Conservation area, Dave and I take stock.  Although we have been on the trail for just two hours, we both are tired; in particular, my legs are a bit rubbery.

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Taking stock

After traveling just a couple hundred yards farther, I stop while Dave scouts ahead a bit.  We decide not to continue on to the hut, which was just a theoretical destination anyway.  The last thing we would need here is for one of us to stumble and fall due to fatigue, so we opt to start back.

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End of the line

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The view in the other direction

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Off to the right

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The canyon awaits us

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Another hiker approaches, followed ultimately by seven more.  Their group is headed for Fern Hut and beyond.

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Slipping and sliding through the mud pits

Care, perseverance, and many stops for aching legs pay off; for eventually we exit the canyon and the conservation area.

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This keeps the sheep in place

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Scurrying ahead of us on the trail

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Dave chases them away

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The Pampas Grass is beautiful

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They're too dumb to run anywhere but down the trail

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Not a natural rock formation lining the creek

The last long slog is taken in lolly-gag mode, for this has been a fairly tiring outing.

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Almost there


§: Well, as indicated, we got more than we had bargained for.  One goes here for the exercise, not for the scenery; but preparatory exercise is just what Dave and I need right now.

Subsequent reading found an article discussing the death of a 68-year-old woman from a fall here, including a suggestion that this trail be closed because it is dangerous.  It has historical value, though; so I doubt that that will happen.

Scenery *
Difficulty *
Solitude *

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