Today we had planned a resting day, after all the energy spent in the last days, we wanted a rest and a change of pace before we move on to bigger cities and other activities. So as we are sleeping in New Zealand's highest village, the best and only reasonable to spend our day resting is to a full day hike of more than 1000 mts climb. Obviously!
We got up and got the weather report, that seemed favorable, so we proceeded to climb Avalanche peak, a 1820 mts peak right on top of the village of Arthur's Pass. Very soon we were looking down into the pass and the whole valley and seeing how the mountains around us got lower and lower. We did a very steep climb up a path called Scott's track and we got almost to the top.
At something like 50 mts in altitude from the peak, we decided to turn round because the weather was turning and the wind and clouds looked dangerous.
The path is extremely steep and we did not want to be caught in a storm in that very exposed ledge, so we were prudent, went down and completed the hiking day with a very nice visit to a nearby waterfall, very romantic and all.
The only pity is that today we did not see many Keas, the famed alpine parrots from New Zealand. Officially there are less than 5000 left, but if so, we have seen probably 4000 of them already. we saw plenty in teh Milford Track, in Hasst Pass, yesterday in Arthur's Pass I saw five or six and they were int he village attacking the tourists... but we did not see then in the top of Avalanche Peak, where you are supposed to go to look for them! Anyway, I also want to declare Josele an official bird nerd, he has taken photos, read about and generally studied all the strange weird birds in the island. And believe me, there are many different types of wingless chickens prancing around this place. Well, by now, Josele knows them all! The Kea, the Weka, the Kiwi and the Wakakakaka, all of them...
The path is extremely steep and we did not want to be caught in a storm in that very exposed ledge, so we were prudent, went down and completed the hiking day with a very nice visit to a nearby waterfall, very romantic and all.
The only pity is that today we did not see many Keas, the famed alpine parrots from New Zealand. Officially there are less than 5000 left, but if so, we have seen probably 4000 of them already. we saw plenty in teh Milford Track, in Hasst Pass, yesterday in Arthur's Pass I saw five or six and they were int he village attacking the tourists... but we did not see then in the top of Avalanche Peak, where you are supposed to go to look for them! Anyway, I also want to declare Josele an official bird nerd, he has taken photos, read about and generally studied all the strange weird birds in the island. And believe me, there are many different types of wingless chickens prancing around this place. Well, by now, Josele knows them all! The Kea, the Weka, the Kiwi and the Wakakakaka, all of them...
The day has turned to rain, but we hope it passes by tonight so tomorrow we can go on enjoying the AMAZING weather we've had up to now.
Tomorrow, phase six!
Edit: This is what i mean when I say "extremely steep"...
Edit: This is what i mean when I say "extremely steep"...
Quite Amazing all the hiking/biking you guys are doing.
ReplyDeleteHow's the knee going btw?
Keep up the updates, it's good to hear about and see pictures of all the green lush landscapes when my own view is of concrete and metal buildings :D.