New Zealand
Stewart Island
The first three days of the walk a predicted storm came in full force, inches of rain per day was likely an accurate forecast. The ranger at the visitor center told me the walk would be "character building"
The only solace to such conditions were the huts, which had fireplaces to warm up and dry things in the evenings
I did a combination of the Northwest Circuit and Southern Circuit over eight days going from Oban to Doughboy Bay (78 miles plus side trips). Pictured above is my first experience with a three wire bridge near the Yankee River hut
Sunrise above East Ruggedy Beach
Rugged Islands from the hill in the northwest corner
The beaches on the walk are stunning, particularly on the north and west sides of the island
Stewart Island offers a good chance to see a kiwi, a nocturnal bird in most of New Zealand, yet they have enough freedom on the island to roam day and night. The four I came across on the trek were all during daylight hours
A rather blind and helpless bird, but a symbol for New Zealanders. I felt like they couldnt notice me unless I made noise, one even stepped on my foot. They are said to have a great sense of smell and are the only bird with nostrils at the tip of their beak.
My greatest memory from the circuit was running down this 700ft sand dune to Big Hellfire beach and taking a cold jump into the ocean
Big Hellfire Pass
Kiwi footprints
Hard to think about the island without mud coming to mind, the west side from Ruggedy to Doughboy having the worst of it
The huts were often empty, would use a double mattress for comfort. When I did meet a fellow tramper, the conversion would often revolve around the mud and which shade of brown was the worst. A couple developed a grading system, ranking it between one-step mud and five-step mud based upon the effort required.
Bog on Adams Hill
The tracks are well marked throughout, a basic map with locations of the huts is all that is needed
Arch at Doughboy Bay
I was told the huts on the Southern Circuit may become hunters huts in the near future (2018), was glad to have done the walk when I did
Sunset on the final night from the hill above "The Gutter"
Flight back to Invercargill
Tongariro Alpine Crossing
Emerald Lakes, Tongariro Alpine Crossing
The Alpine Crossing is one of the more popular treks in New Zealand. I did an out and back hike to Emerald Lakes with a side trip to summit Mount Doom (10 miles return, 4500ft gain)
Mt Doom in Mordor (Mt Ngauruhoe)
Summit view from Mt Doom
Mt Ngauruhoe from Mangatepopo
Red Crater
Gertrude Saddle
Black Lake, Gertrude Saddle
The creeks required crossing on the way up from the morning rain, but had returned to normal levels and could be skipped across on the return hike. Ropes are there for assistance when climbing to Black Lake and the summit. On a clear day, there are views of Milford Sound from the summit.