Ted's Hiking World Tramping New Zealand

DAY 13 - Routeburn Track 3/3

The early contingent gets up around 6 a.m.  Some will be on the trail before they can even see it properly.  Having already had plenty of sleep, I get up also to try to catch the morning light on the mountains.

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Just missed the sunrise

The bathroom here is a row of six stalls and another row of wash basins — a single room for everybody.  This non-world traveler finds it a bit unusual to do one's morning business, then emerge from the stall only to bump into a sweet young thing who is brushing her teeth!  One doesn't find such facilities back home, where society in general is relatively up-tight about such things.

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At the Unisex facility, you don't have to decide which gender you are

After another helping of Oatsoup for breakfast, Dave and I depart early, hoping to catch the early bus back to town yet knowing that it is not likely to happen.

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Early-morning fog

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The peaks to the south
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The peaks to the north

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Into the rainforest
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Above the clouds

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Magnificent colors

In the near distance we can see and hear a big waterfall; presently we are there.

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Approaching Earland Falls

This place is magnificent!  It is time for Dave and me to doff our packs and just take in the spectacle for a while.

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571 feet of spendor

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This is why I go hiking

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Most trees around here aren't this color
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Still above the clouds

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Dave likes this old stump

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A nice watering hole

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Into the sunlight, temporarily

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Approaching Lake Howden Hut

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The fog is swirling about the lake

Now we know that we cannot catch the early bus; so we might as well hang around here for a while, and watch the Guided Walkers inside the hut sipping their tea.

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This guy is looking for a handout

The big ibuprofen that Dave gave me this morning has helped, but my back still is a bit sore.  We could hang around here longer; but I cannot find a comfortable spot to recline, so I talk Dave into pressing on.

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Tunnel tree

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Beautiful

Near the end of the track, Dave and I actually overtake some hikers for the first time.  In this case, it's a mom and dad with a 3-year-old toddler.  Maybe we're not so old after all!

Hold on.  That group has just passed us back, with the little girl on daddy's shoulders.

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It's not mistletoe; but it's everywhere

Finally, with just yards to go, we do overtake that threesome again, actually beating someone off the trail!

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Made it!  Now we get to wait an hour and a half for our bus to Te Anau, along with numerous others doing the same thing.

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Parking lot humor


§: What a trip!  And I survived my first-ever tramp.  I hope that I will be so lucky on the upcoming Kepler Track, which rates to be much more difficult.

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The route: north to south

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