TA Day 40

TA Day 40: Monday 27 January 2025

Hurunui Hut - 2 km west of Boundary Stream

Finally a hut were we could lie beside each other and hug all night! We slept better, but the sleep was not perfect of course.

It had rained during the night, but while we were getting ready, we saw a glimpse of the sun. When we came out onto the big grassy fields we saw the dark clouds in the distance, and prepared ourselves with rain gear as a safety measure. It was a good idea, because some time later, the rain - and also hail, came. But Jan said it wouldn't last so long and he was right, as usual.

We walked for a long time in a cozy forest. The only thing that wasn't so cozy was the funny smell here and there, usually accompanied by sooty mould (looks kind of like a black moss) all over the trees and wasps. A lot of wasps.

By the next hut, Hope Kiwi Lodge, we stopped for lunch. It was hot and sunny here and both of us even lay down in the hut for a quick nap. It was so nice! So nice that it was a bit hard to continue, but we did so anyway, since there was many hours left and we really wanted to reach Boyle early tomorrow.

The hiking continued to be easy, and we met a lot of SOBOs. By the next hut, Hope Halfway Hut, Jan caught up to us again and we continued together the last few kms. We found a good camp spot with fantastic views, but didn't enjoy them for long before we were asleep.

Today's:

Distance: 28.73 km

Ascent: 638 m

Descent: 676 m

Tent nights: 28/40

Weather: Sunny morning before starting, clouds, rain and hail, then partly cloudy and sunny the rest of the day