Four months after ticking off the Abel Tasman, I found myself in the depths of the stormiest Spring I can remember. Every weekend I had free, fresh snow hammered Fiordland. My window for ticking off the Kepler and Milford tracks was shrinking. Not to mention, I was yet to recover my running legs, after becoming a slave to the skis. I was beginning to let go of my goal, to accept defeat. Then one Sunday, it all changed. We were supposed to be checking stoat traps across lake Te anau, but had pulled the pin due to gales whipping the South Arm into angry peaks and troughs. Not boat-friendly. I eventually got away from work at midday, and decided it was time for a big run. A return trip to Luxmore hut sounded good. A devious voice in the back of my mind suggested I could just knock the whole thing off, and while I hushed it, I did pack my running vest with a sizeable stash of snacks. I set out on the familiar terrain and as I gained elevation I was feeling good. Upon reaching Luxmore hut, I sent a text message to a friend, suggesting I was considering going for the whole loop that afternoon and asking him to keep tabs on me. The reply read “Yes yes yes, go go gooooooo.” I continued on and was pretty blown away by the veiws over the alpine section. Honestly, this must be the most underrated of all the Great Walks. It was stunning! Once I committed to descending into the Iris Burn I knew what I was in for, having worked in that valley several times. It would be long and undulating but largely downhill, and through such beautiful open forest with giant podocarps. I committed, and every time I hit a spot of reception I had another “go, go, go” message from my mate. It definitely helped. In the final ten kilometers my legs became heavy and aching, and it became a tough mental game. With a few kilometers left, my mate appeared in his running gear, grinning widely at me. Feeling revived by his presence, and more than a little emotional at the sweetness of the gesture, I stumbled on (at times literally), to make it home for dinner. Shit yeah. Another one down. That didn't hurt a bit.
1 Comment
Roger Leslie
10/24/2020 07:55:56 pm
Write a book - yes, yes, yes, go, go, gooooo
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I am a conservation field worker in New Zealand. I love mountains, sunrises, river swims, barefeet, cold beer, campfires, live music and whiskey.
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