Tramping the Routeurn

I just finished walking in possibly one of the most stunning places on the planet. The Routeburn track is a true mountain tramp that travels over thirty two kilometers through both the Mount Aspiring and Fiordland national parks. The Track traverses wild and scenic mountain country between the Hollyford and Dart Valleys at the base of New Zealand's Southern Alps.

I have been fortunate over these last several months as I have had mostly great weather on many of the hikes. For these three days The weather was absolutely incredible. Bright blue skies, beautiful cool evenings and mornings and stunning light as you will see in what are probably the best photographs that I have taken so far.

There is a considerable amount of climbing in a consistently upward trajectory, but one would expect this when you are hiking in an alpine region. The first day involves a walk through the beech forests until you begin a gradual and at times, steep ascent up to the falls hut. The views along the way are breath taking and at one point you come to an area where there was a Massive land slide in 1994.

The second day was the kind of hike that you dream about. Much like some of my days of isolation on the Togariro Northern Crossing or out on the Heaphy track, I Had that same feeling of elation and euphoria. I was feeling physically strong and getting closer to the completion of an often daunting goal. To complete all nine of New Zealand's Great Walks. With the completion of the Routeburn I only had The Keppler and Raikura tracks and the Whanganui River journey left and I will have accomplished what I at times, thought was going to be impossible.

The second day encompasses the walk up to the Harris Saddle. After leaving the falls hut, you begin a steep climb up towards the Harris Saddle. Once the hut is out of sight you come in to an area that is a pristine mountain path surrounded by mountains on either side. The sun was still low in the sky and you were now walking level with some of the clouds that still hung un-moving, below the mountain peaks. Some of the mountains appeared grayish brown in color while others were the color of black granite. Looking back towards the valley, the sun was now brighter and the distant mountains were just grey Silhouettes. After several hours you reach a shelter at the base of Conical hill. Conical hill climbs an additional one thousand five hundred and fifteen meters up and many people pass it by and go on to the next hut at Lake Mackenzie. It was an extremely steep climb and quite challenging with a camera bag strapped over the shoulder but it was completely worth the effort. From the summit, you have endless views of the Darren Mountain range and can see as far as the Tasman Sea. It was a crystal clear blue sky and the white snow capped peaks were stark and bright against the black granite rock. AWESOME.

Along the way, I met some more really great people. The Australian fella that I had met on the Milford track that I talk about in my ode to the American tourist, and a very nice and friendly Australian couple who were semi-retired in their early sixties and vey fit and enjoying life. The husband is my hero as any guy that plunges into a freezing mountain lake in a speedo is OK in my book.

ROUTEBURN PHOTOS AT BOTTOM OF PAGE