TA Day 44

TA Day 44: Friday 31 January 2025

Waiau Uwha River / South of Webber Falls - Blue Lake Hut

This morning the sky was back to blue.

The trail was still fine, but got more difficult the closer we got to "the fork" where the actual climb starts.

We stopped for a breakfast break and the sun was scorching us! Kim wanted to swim!(!!!!) Lukas were really surprised but of course we would swim if Kim wanted to swim! So we went in. A quick dip, with some clothes on, but the clothes dried quickly in the heat.

We continued, and talked to some hikers along the way. One German guy that was collecting the names of all people he met on his hike on a physical map. Really interesting idea!

He and his hiking partner also said that we would soon meet a family - The Williams family, apparently quite famous because families along The Araroa is unusual. It was a big family, 4 kids and their parents, and the youngest as old as 6 years old! Really amazing that they are doing this tough trail together.

We made fast progress today as we felt a lot stronger than yesterday. It was quite an easy climb, from people's descriptions we had thought it would be worse. Some scrambling, but the rock was really grippy (almost like it gripped you back) so it was just fun! Not difficult at all, and not too tough either.

We met some more nice people on our way up, and Lukas hit a rock quite hard with his knee and was in pain for the rest of the day.

Suddenly we were at the saddle and we were surprised that we were already up. Up here we also had reception, so we sent some messages and did some internet chores and had a loooong snack break joined by an American who was hiking the South Island. He was very nice to talk to.

The way down was slow, but also easier than expected. Not even close to the steep scree down from Stody's Hut, or the bad route we took down from Beuzenberg Peak.

We also passed 1000 km today!

On the way down we met even more nice people, including another Swede! A second Alexander, whom we apparently already follow on Instagram 😄

But we weren't done yet. We had another climb to do before we reached the hut. 200 m up and then even more down before getting there. This scree was a bit steeper and Kim was glad that we were going up it, and not down it. From there we could see Blue Lake, a lake famous in New Zealand for being sacred, and for its really clear water. Apparently one of the clearest waters in the world. And it really was blue, a very cool blue colour we haven't seen any other lake being.

We arrived to the hut, met the hut warden and informed us how many Canada geese we had seen today, as we had been told by other hikers that she wanted this information, and decided to pitch our tent there. They had square tent areas prepared with bark and stuff for you to pitch your tent on. That was new! We just managed to fit the tent in it.

While Lukas were off to take a swim - you're not allowed to swim in the lake, or even touch the lake, but there was a stream nearby in which you were allowed to do so, Kim got stuck talking to a really nice couple, Molly and Ted from the US. They weren't TA hikers but they were hiking some sections of the TA as well as some other hikes. They were really lovely!

Today's:

Distance: 16.50 km

Ascent: 1300 m

Descent: 1000 m

Tent nights: 31/44

Weather: Sunny