The rain was bucketing down when the alarm went off at 6.30. everything was damp and cold and the wind was blustery.
After getting our dry clothes on we headed for breakfast, sitting with the guys from Japan. Just after breakfast, the guides announced that the rain was so heavy and the rivers so high, they we could not begin our last days hike. Apparently, the rivers had begun to wash across parts of the track, making hiking dangerous. If the rain did not ease, we would have to be taken out by helicopter. Not long after, the thunder echoed around the valley. John had only seen rain like this in India during the monsoon. The torrential rain had now been falling for almost 24 hours.
After getting our dry clothes on we headed for breakfast, sitting with the guys from Japan. Just after breakfast, the guides announced that the rain was so heavy and the rivers so high, they we could not begin our last days hike. Apparently, the rivers had begun to wash across parts of the track, making hiking dangerous. If the rain did not ease, we would have to be taken out by helicopter. Not long after, the thunder echoed around the valley. John had only seen rain like this in India during the monsoon. The torrential rain had now been falling for almost 24 hours.
Just over a hour later, the rain began to ease. Half an hour later, we began our last hike. The rain was still falling but not as heavily as before. Due to the dangerous conditions, we had to walk the first part of the track as a group, sticking lose to gether. Many sections of the track we small streams, our feet were soaking within minutes.
After a while, we were able to strike out on our own. We walked with American John for a while. We came across a group of independent walkers standing around a building, sheltering from the rain. We walked through them, reaching a suspended bridge over the river. As we crossed, American John mentioned that one of the independent walkers said they were being held back, due to the conditions.
We pressed on, assuming that our guide, Emily, was ahead of us. We came a cross a section of track knee deep in water. Not long after crossing it, Emily appeared behind us! The building we had passed was a hot drink stop for us. We had to wade back through the water again, back to the hut, where we had to await the green light from the Department Of Conservation, as another part of the track was waist deep in water and potentially dangerous.
After a hour, we were able to continue the hike but again in one big group. We reached the deep water which had subsided a tad. It was still quite deep but tame enough.
After a while, we were able to stride on. The rain began to ease and at times it stopped. The views of the waterfalls were wonderful. Fiona thought the mountains looked like they were bleeding water. If you like waterfalls, you will love this place in the rain. However, we would have like less rain and more sun.
We strode out, reaching the end of the hike, Sand Fly Point, for 3.30pm. During this last section, we came across a family of Weka. These medium sized, flightless birds are very tame. They came up to us, had a good look and then disappeared back into the trees. We were the first out of our group to finish. Angie and Liz came in second, followed by Quentin and Katrina.
After a cuppa and scone, Nick directed us to the ferry. Bang on 4pm, the ferry took us on a quick tour to Mitre Peak Lodge, our final lodge.
We hung our clothes and boots in the drying rooms and jumped into our hot bath. For the first time in four days, our room was warm and dry. After relaxing as met with others in the lounge for a celebration drink of bubbly. Everyone had made it, including Mervi and Gale. Mervi’s feet were playing her up, but she was all smiles. Gale was so pleased with herself, she bought a bottle of Champers.
After another hilarious dinner with Liz and Angie, we returned to the bar to receive our certificates. Angie and Liz had written an amusing poem about the trip. Much of it was about Nick, who Angie had taken a bit of a shine too, even though she was old enough to be his grandmother!!
After much hilarity, some of us went to the local bar for a celebration drink. By 10.30 we were back in bed enjoying the warm dry bedding, glad the rain soaked even was over. We had really enjoyed meeting everyone and the hike had been fun, but the walking is not that challenging and the rain had taken some of the fun away. The guides told us that, although this area gets almost constant rain, it was not normal for it to be so heavy. We certainly would not do it again. We also felt it was over priced and over hyped. Queen Charlotte an Abel Tasman were both more challenging and more enjoyable and free!!
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