MT. ASPIRING NATIONAL PARK

Wanaka was the perfect place to celebrate Marina's birthday. We spent 2 days with trail friends + then had a nice dinner/climbed Roys Peak. 

Then we approached Queenstown.

How to start?
After a good long + restful five days in Wanaka, we decided to switch things up, which we're now known to do. Mt. Aspiring National Park is only 51 km from Wanaka + after sitting at the Te Araroa trail head for over an hour, wondering what was best, we decided to follow our hearts + head there. When we made this decision, we didn't think we'd make a new friend + be tested harder than we had been on our entire trip so far.

Our trail friends Colin + Sian happily joined us on this detour. We can thank sign master Colin for helping us get there. 

We can also thank Jens for the ride.

Jens came by about an hour after Colin and Sian were found by a motor vehicle + were making their way up to the park. He first pulled over in his red Honda minivan he had been living out of, looking very disheveled, unshowered + offered us a ride about 2 minutes down the road. We thought that was strange, but that it was nice for him to offer. A mere 2 minutes later he drove back to tell us he'd like to take us up to the park! We said yes hesitantly at first (probably because of the crazy hair) + soon after we started driving we knew he would become a friend.

When we arrived to the park, he walked with us for the first couple hours as we approached Cascade Saddle + when we arrived at the hut for the night he said "ya know what, I think I might come with you guys. It sounds fun". He ran back to his car to grab supplies + a bag + ran back to the hut that night, knowing that at the end of this 3 day trip he would have a 5 hour hitchhike back to get to his car in the middle of nowhere. What a cool dude. 

We planned ahead for a day of rain, but not for paying for the first hut. With some confusion from the DOC center, the hut we planned to stay in was $30 per person, per night. The hut warden, Stu, wasn't so happy when he found out we weren't prepared + thought we were pulling his leg. With just enough money, we all stayed for one night, hoping that a miracle would happen + we'd be able to head out the next day in fine weather. 

The next morning we woke up expecting a rainstorm, but saw blue sky poking out of the heavy fog. Mr. Stu says "you have a window, go now." We're assuming Mr. Stu wanted us gone for good because this day was by far, the most intense day on our trip.

The climb up to Cascade Saddle was at first okay + we started with no rain. As we continued to climb, it only became more steep + cold. It also had a "death zone" close to the top, where the rain decided to pour + the wind decided it was best to pick up to around 100km/h. We were off + on contemplating whether or not to turn back, but going back down the sheer rock looked like more of a hassle, especially when we knew we'd have a better trail on the other side.  

We got to the highest point and started the decent. Despite the rain, the views were spectacular... if only we could have taken pictures that day. To sum things up, we hiked for 7 hours without any breaks or food. We just needed to get to the hut. We were blown over to our butts, drenched from head to toe + cursing Stu. No one would have fully enjoyed what we did that day. As Jens says, it was type 2 fun. The type when you're not completely suffering, but just kind of miserable + can enjoy the story later.

The hut was spectacular. Perched nicely on the left bank of the dart river with open arms. The relief that we felt the moment we saw the hut was almost euphoric. When we stepped foot inside, many high-fives were exchanged + I think we all felt like we truly beat the odds that day. Truly the most difficult single day we've had in these past four months. We ate as much food as our stomachs could hold, played some monopoly deal (the board game turned awesome card game) + slept soundly.

The next day we woke expecting rain but no, only sun. Battered + tired we timidly awoke, most of us wanted to stay the day in this beautiful hut. We decided we'd leave at 12 + hike 4 hours to the next hut, but thanks to rain, flurries, sun, clouds, + indecisiveness, we in fact did end up staying. We drank a bottle of champagne Jens had carried from his car, played card games + went for little day walks around the river. A good day off.

What a beautiful day we then had to head over Rees Saddle, but also a sad one, knowing we'd be saying goodbye to Jens. After a few hours of hiking together he said goodbye + vanished into the mountain valley. We haven't seen him since...

But we have talked to him via text.

The next day we made our way to the small town of Glenorchy, then to Queenstown...

Devon