Milford Track

Well I just recently finished hiking the famous Milford Track. It takes 4 days, and you cover between 54 and 60 kilometers, depending on how many side trips you decide to take. It is quite volatile up in the Fiords at any time of the year. The weather forecast said it would be nice for our trip, but that changed for day 3. Day 3 is where you have to go up and over Mackinnon pass, which is an 1100 meter climb. Our ranger the night before told us to expect heavy rains, strong winds, and some hail. He was right! I bought a poncho from an outdoor shop and the guy said it was very durable, that the army used it, and that it would cover my pack. So, i decided to just leave my waterproof cover for of my marmot jacket in the car and use the poncho to cover my fleece on the track it I needed. When I pulled it out on day 3 to get ready for the day's hike, the piece of shit ripped. Not only that, but there was no way it would come close to covering my pack. I duct taped it up and that only lasted halfway up the past. I got to the top in full exposure of ice chunks blowing at up to 50 mph, and it ripped open. I made it to the hut on the pass, thankfully, and used that time to put on the few remaining items i had that were still dry. The hike down was just as bad, fording waterfalls up close to my waist, getting drenched with no waterproof gear, and by that night I'd developed two huge blisters. All in all though, upon finishing the hike, it was a lot of fun. It was really enjoyable battling the elements a little bit, knowing that you are up against antarctic winds and rain. The coolest thing about Milford is that every stream, lake and waterfall is drinkable. It is one of the few places in the world where you can just put your waterbottle under a fall and drink the water. Breathing that air for 4 days was incredible. I already want to hike it again. I also saw Kea (large alpine parrots), owls, and wea (large turkey looking things) along the way, plus glowworms and hundreds of prehistoric plants. The people in my group of 40 were good. Some weren't. There was a group of 12 aussie friends who were a bit annoying, they all snored in the bunkhouses. But, I met an Israeli guy that I hiked the majority of the trip with. He has done many tramps, inluding 2 10+ day hikes in Nepal (one of which was over 200 kilometers). He also used to be in the army and had to train by tramping along some 20 kilometers a day for weeks at a time, all while carrying his bedding, weapon, etc. Also played cards with some other Aussies I met, and had a good chat with some Irish folk who have been traveling the world for the last 6 months. (They started in India, then Tibet, China, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, then they are going to States, Mexico, Central America, and home.) Great experience, loads of fun, but going to need a few days to rest this one off. Enjoy the pictures

baby seals

so here are some more picture for you guys..I've got a couple more from my abel tasman walk, and then I have the impressive Aoraki backdrop, which includes 6,000 feet of these glacier/steppes of snow and ice. While I was there actually, a big chunk of the face you're looking at came crashing down. It made what sounded like a dynamite blast echo down the valley. It reminds me alot of Lord Of The Rings around here, and sure enough, they filmed most of the natural scenery down in this region, and a little bit further to the south in Otago. I think the major battles, like Isengaard, were mostly filmed where I am, around Twizel, where it is rolling plains and big mountains in the background. I've got one more of a River Eel which I encountered while hiking around. I guess there are a lot of these guys living around the streams in New Zealand. This particular one was close to 3 feet, but very thick. (insert absurd joke here). Oh yeah, and don't forget about me looking cool as usual in my tramping hat...I've fallen in love with this hat and I'm sure I won't lay it to rest until it is a light turquoise color and has rips and tears all over it.....ok enjoy!

beatnick

Im out here in New Zealand....somewhere....I've been up around the tasman N.P. on a two day hike, Arthur's Pass N.P. on a summit of an 8,000 foot mountain, but the start was at sea level so it was a pretty grueling hike. Most of it required climbing with hands and feet and negotiating some sketchy scree, or loose rock avalanche areas. I was also up at Mt. Cook. N.P. (pictured) on a some hikes....I was able to get to within like 3 feet of these seals at a small seal colony (pictured is a barking baby who kept following me around) on my hike along the tasman coast. other than that, biked once so far, doin a 26 km loop tomorrow. Pretty much been living out of a tent for the last 10 days or so, with an occasional pitstop at a bunk house or cabin. The country only gets prettier the further south you go (well, only cuz i've been living by the beach so long that the mountains are what is truly grabbing me now). enjoy the pictures, take care and leave a message!!!