New Zealand: Milford Track Day 3
After a brief absence (due to the fact that I left my camera on the bus from Milford to Te Anau and had to wait for them to ship it back to me), we now continue with:
Day 3
Woke up, out the door by 8. Hut mgr says we're in for a bit of weather. About 20 mins down the track we begin the ascent up the mntn and that's when it starts to rain.
It doesn't stop raining for 12 hours. Reaching the summit isn't too challenging, but it's cold, windy and raining hard.
The mntn is steeped in fog so visibility is nil. It's a bit disappointing.
We can see bits and pieces looking back at Clinton Valley, but nothing on the other side. At the peak of Mt. McKinnon, when we cross over to the other side (towards the ocean), we're now entering literally one of the wettest places on earth.
We descend from 1045 meters over the next several hours. Seeing the rainforest dripping wet is kinda cool.
We get below the fog and reach the hiker shelter for some instant coffee.
Next is the side trip to Sutherland falls. At 580m it's the tallest in NZ and the 5th tallest in the world. You can stand underneath it. It's a 3-stage falls.
The waterfall is impressive nut by this point I'm soaking wet and tired. I try to go under the falls, and my socks - the last dry place on my body - get drenched. I'm done.
Return to the shelter, another hour to the Dumpling hut, and let my gear dry by the fire.
We study the route for tomorrow, since our timing to get to Sandfly point is critical to avoid missing the boat across Milford Sound.
The last day to come, Day 4, contains the most impressive scenery I've ever seen in my life. I took over 200 pictures on that final day alone.
Day 3
Woke up, out the door by 8. Hut mgr says we're in for a bit of weather. About 20 mins down the track we begin the ascent up the mntn and that's when it starts to rain.
It doesn't stop raining for 12 hours. Reaching the summit isn't too challenging, but it's cold, windy and raining hard.
The mntn is steeped in fog so visibility is nil. It's a bit disappointing.
We can see bits and pieces looking back at Clinton Valley, but nothing on the other side. At the peak of Mt. McKinnon, when we cross over to the other side (towards the ocean), we're now entering literally one of the wettest places on earth.
We descend from 1045 meters over the next several hours. Seeing the rainforest dripping wet is kinda cool.
We get below the fog and reach the hiker shelter for some instant coffee.
Next is the side trip to Sutherland falls. At 580m it's the tallest in NZ and the 5th tallest in the world. You can stand underneath it. It's a 3-stage falls.
for some perspective, this guy was standing about 200 feet away from the falls
The waterfall is impressive nut by this point I'm soaking wet and tired. I try to go under the falls, and my socks - the last dry place on my body - get drenched. I'm done.
Return to the shelter, another hour to the Dumpling hut, and let my gear dry by the fire.
We study the route for tomorrow, since our timing to get to Sandfly point is critical to avoid missing the boat across Milford Sound.
The last day to come, Day 4, contains the most impressive scenery I've ever seen in my life. I took over 200 pictures on that final day alone.
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