The 8 Big Ones!!!!

OK, so here is my new idea. And I have been labelled a crazy pom for this. I want to run all of the NZ great walks. After the fun of the Routeburn earlier this year, I have decided to set myself the target of running all of the great walks, ending at the Routeburn Classic next year. There are nine "great walks" in NZ, but one of these, rather strangely, is a kayak trip, so that can not be run, and will take place whenever. That leaves me with 8.
The big 8 are:
Lake Waikaremoana, 42km, North Island
Tongariro Northern Circuit, 50km, North Island
Abel Tasman Coast Track, 51km, South Island
Heaphy Track, 82km(!!!), South Island
Routeburn Track, 32.1km, South Island
Milford Tack, 53.5km, South Island
Kepler Track, 60.1km, South Island
Rakiura Track, 36km, South Island (on Stewart Island)
So the hills around Clyde are my training ground! In the last week I have managed one 34km run, and one 44km run, the last one with a height gain of 1000m, so I think I can do it! My friends Gary and Beck and Mel and Fran all are my support crew, as will mum and dad be when they are over!
So wish me luck, and watch this space!!!!

Fiordland Trip

Before starting my new job, I decided I really, really needed a holiday, having had a very stressful few month of skiing as much as possible ;-)
Me and Mel and Jon, decided on a tramping trip into fiordland, once of the worlds last true wildernesses. Fiordland is the south west corner of the south island and apart from a road running to Milford Sound, and a few walking trails, its is a place of dense bush, high mountains and amazing wildlife. We were heading in in winter, to a rarely visited part on the way to George Sound. When we asked the Department of Conservation (DoC) what conditions are like in fiordland at the moment their answer was "we dont know, no-one has been in there for months". Enough said, we were excited! To get in we hired a man and his boat, to gt us across Lake Te Anau, and then, after a 15 minute walk, Lake Hankinson. He left us here and we walked for four hours to get to our hut. The way in had many obstacles, fallen trees, bog, and the dreaded three wire bridge. Literally, three wires, one to walk on, two to hold. Not easy when there is a ten meter drop below you, a 70 litre pack on your back, and nothing but your own steadiness to rely on! Most of this walk was through bush, with the odd glimpse of the high, steep sided mountains that characterise fiordland, and the waterfalls running down them into lakes and rivers.
On arriving at the hut we got chopping wood to get the fire going, and sorted our kit. There was no one else there (apart from Mr Weka-Weka, the hut Weka, which is a type of NZ bird) and the book made it look as if there are only ten or so visitors a year. The next day we set off as dawn was breaking on our walk to George Sound. It was going to take at least ten hours. The going was really tough. We had big packs on and the way was just one big bog slog. Sometimes we would disappear up to our waists in bog. Usually just knees though. We were also fighting our way through forest with fallen trees in our path. After five hours we emerged thankfully onto Henry Saddle. Its was refreshing to be out in the open, and what a view! Mountains and valleys and not a sign of human life, as far as the eye could see. It really was an awesome moment and a stunning view. We stopped for lunch and debated our next move. It would be a further six hours, probably more to George Sound, through denser and wetter forest. There was a point where we would have to wade through a lake. And we would get there in the dark. Our plan was to have a day at George Sound hut then back the following day, but weather looked as though we may have to come back the very next day, which would mean leaving in the dark and never seeing George Sound in daylight, or staying the day and taking a chance with mother nature. Jon was keen to continue, me and Mel were wanting to go back. I for one, could not face that much slogging through forest. I am "tops" girl through and through and feel strangely oppressed when I spend too much time in the forests. I just love wide open spaces and mountain tops, where Mel and Jon love the forest too. We decided to turn back, a big decision for Jon, as it had long been a goal of his to get to George Sound. I am keen to come back someday, maybe camp on the saddle and get to the sound over couple of days. Its still on the list!
We returned to Thompson Hut and had a couple of days chilling, doing day walks from the hut, and enjoying the solitude. We tried to catch some trout from the lake, but no luck. We walked out in the rain, and met Vern, our boatman. It was great to be back in Te-Anau, away from the sandflies, to have a shower, and eat some fresh fruit and veg! And although we had had some sherry with us in the hut, it was good to enjoy a good glass of wine.
We met our friend Fran in Te-Anau and had a couple of chill out days.... went for a run, and did the lake Marian walk, a lovely 3hr round trip to a beautiful clear like, nestled amongst alpine peaks. We then drove to Wanaka, where Fran's fella, Rob joined us. We had a wicked days skiing at Treble Cone, couldn't see a thing, but loads of fresh powder, an awesome day! We had a day cross country skiing on nordic skis, then a day of R&R!
A brilliant trip with great friends :-)

Winter Fun!

Well, once more it has been far to long between blogs, I can only appologise. My excuse? Having far too much fun :-)
It has really been an awesome winter. Having started out being very tentative on skis (hadn't skiied for years), I got myself a pass that allowed me access to 11 different ski fields accross canterbury. These were "club" fields, and very unlike any places I have skied before. They tend to be privately owned and, although they do have some groomed slopes, there is a vast amount of ungroomed terrain. They are much, much smaller than european resorts, but have a friendly and relaxed feel. As a result of avoiding the commercial fields, I am now able to ski in all types of snow, over all kinds of diferent terrain. Not with much style or grace, but I can ski it. The main joy of the winter was finding fresh powder to ski in. Once you get the hang of skiing in powder it feels like you are floating over the ground, flying even. It really is the most amazing feeling! The other good thing about the club fields is the lack of people. I had a week day pass too, which mean there was barely anyone else on the slopes, bliss!
I also had a winter walk up to Mueller Hut, in Mt Cook National Park. Me and Axel, a friend from USA, walked up there in a bit of a storm, but got up safely to find that we were the only ones up in this beautiful spot. Not another soul, and beautiful mountains as far as the eye can see. The next morning we left our packs at the hut, carrying only ice-axes we climbed to the top of Mt Olivier, a very small peak, but the first one that Sir Ed Hillary ever climbed :-) Stunning views in beautiful sunshine.
I feel pretty sad that winter is coming to an end, but climbing season is starting again soon, and I have lots of fun plans.
I have moved down south to a small town called clyde, nestled in the hills of Central Otago. Its beautiful. I have started working at a small country hospital and loving the quiet life! Lots to do, really close to the mountains.... so watch this space. Have also started running training again.....will give you more info on this at a later date!
Ta-ra for now xx