Day 11/64 š„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island š³šæ
šSupported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
Richmond Alpine Track
ā¹ļøStats: Thursday 11th January
Weather: Hot & sunny āļø
From: Hacket Hut
Start time: 8am
To: Slaty Hut (1400m)
End time: 2.50pm
Accommodation: 6 bed hut - bottom bunk
Terrain: multiple river crossing, steep climbing through forest, across a saddle, scree
š„¾Km: 10
š¦¶Steps: 12,878
Total Km: 1883/3028 = 62% ā
š°Costs: $0
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 10/10
Fatigue: 4/10
Ease of terrain: 8/10
āļøHighlights: an incredible day. Once we got through the forest and up to Starveall Hut. The views were amazing.
šļøChallenges: a big day of climbing - but it was totally worth it. Lactic acid in the legs was a little painful towards the end.
šThoughts: I canāt wait for the next few days!!! Iām so excited!! š„³š„³š„³
Day 12/64 š„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island š³šæ
šSupported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
Richmond Alpine Track
ā¹ļøStats: Friday 12th January
Weather: hot & sunny āļø
Walked with Bertie @fundraise4fiji
From: Slaty Hut
Start time: 7.11am
To: Rintoul Hut
End time: 3.30pm
Accommodation: hut 6 people - bottom bunk
Terrain: steep, rocky and exposed. some scrambling and is āthe most difficult portion of the Richmond Alpine Trackā
š„¾Km: 14
š¦¶Steps: 17,962
Total Km: 1896.5/3028 63% ā
š°Costs: $0 š„³š„³š„³
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 10/10
Fatigue: 5/10
Ease of terrain: 10/10
āļøHighlights: omg!! So many - itās been a phenomenal day. 360 degree views, tough walks. Summits šļø Mt Rintoul 1731m ā
šļøChallenges: lost my go pro - at the start of the day - lucky found it after walking back to the hut. The steep ascents and descents, the scree fields, the exposures. It had it all!!
šThoughts: what an incredible walk!! Itās been amazing, the people, the weather, the terrain. Everything has been epic!! Loving the South Island šļø
Day 13/64 š„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island š³šæ
šSupported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
Richmond Alpine Track
ā¹ļøStats: Saturday 13th January - walked with Bertie @fundraise4fiji
Weather: hot & sunny āļø
From: Rintoul Hut
Start time: 8.10am
To: Mid Wairoa Hut
End time: 2.15pm
Accommodation: bottom bunk - new hut.
Terrain: rocks, through forests, over Purple Top. Steep descent to the river, across a swing bridge.
š„¾Km: 12.5
š¦¶Steps: 16,700
Total Km: 1911.5/3028 = 63% ā
š°Costs: $0 š„³š„³š„³
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fatigue: 6/10 - felt super tired in the morning. People were leaving the hut at 4.10am and making a lot of noise! It was hard to get back to sleep.
Ease of terrain: 8/10
āļøHighlights: having a swim in the river by the hut. It was cold but so refreshing! Having a shortish day!
šļøChallenges: some of the steep downhill sections were tough going. Lots of wasps, bees š and sandflies - trying to get them out the hut!
šThoughts: 2 more days to go! Food is running low!
Day 14/64 š„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island š³šæ
šSupported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
Richmond Alpine Track
ā¹ļøStats: Sunday 14th January - walked with Bertie @fundraise4fiji
Weather: cooler & light rain š§ļø
From: Mid Wairoa Hut
Start time: 8.10am
To: Hunters Hut
End time: 4.30pm
Accommodation: bottom bunk
Terrain: steep terrain, 8 river crossings, erosion is places. Rooty sections - high exposed ridge.
š„¾Km: 12.3
š¦¶Steps: 15,745
Total Km: 1929/3028 = 64% ā
š°Costs: $0 - whoop whoop!! Although worried about how much Iām going to spend when I get to townā¦.
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10 š„³š„³š„³
Fatigue: 8/10 so tired today - really feeling it!
Ease of terrain: 9/10 - so much climbing.
āļøHighlights: seeing Bram (from canoeing š¶) at the hut! Having a hot chocolate in my empty Nutella jar.
šļøChallenges: my food is getting very low! Iām almost out. Only stopped for 15 mins at Tarn hut. It started to get a little windy on the ridges.
šThoughts: what a day! The plan is to get to town tomorrow - which is going to be a real push!!
Day 15/64 š„¾Te Araroa Trail - The South Island š³šæ
šSupported by ZOLEO @zoleolifeeurope #ChallengeWithZoleo
Richmond Alpine Track
ā¹ļøStats: Monday 15th January
Weather: hot & sunny āļø
From: Hunters Hut
Start time: 7.25am
To: St Arnaud Village - Alpine Lodge
End time: 4pm
Accommodation: top bunk - 4 girl dorm
Terrain: hard going, muddy, rooty, Rocky - your normal NZ terrain
š„¾Km: 21.3
š¦¶Steps: 26,194
šHitch - SH6 š Nathan - such a legend for picking me up. It was such a quiet road. 8/12km
Total Km: 1968/3028 = 65%ā
š°Costs: $65 accommodation- dorm room
$28 resupply - wine, chocolate, crisps
$21 coke & gf Hawaiian pizza
$18 gin & tonic
$52 - Dinner & wine š·
Total $184 šÆ
Subjective feeling out of 10 on:
Enjoyment: 8/10
Fatigue: 7/10 - got a second wind after arriving at the lodge
Ease of terrain: 9/10
āļøHighlights: seeing Destroyer at the last hut and having a catch up. Getting a hitch into town š„³, eating pizza with David (amazing ultra runner from the UK) getting to the shop before it closed. Drinking a G&T in the sun and catching up on socials. Life is good. Plus a rest day tomorrow
šļøChallenges: got sunburn on my back while waiting for a hitch. Such a long day!
šThoughts: sometimes when you look at obstacles and challenges in the distance, for example, a massive mountain to climb or a river to cross.
š§ You start overthinking things in your head. What Iāve found is when you actually get up to the obstacle and break it down and take it step-by-step itās a lot easier to manage and before you know it youāve climbed that mountain or crossed the river šļø
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