Te Araroa – Day 40

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Mid Wairoa Hut to Red Hills Hut

22 miles

Mile 1190.0

I spent my morning following a river up the mountain. The water was low, so the going was easy, but I could imagine this section being treacherous after heavy rain.

When I reached Top Wairoa Hut the terrain changed drastically.

I climbed through almost desert like flora over red hills and fields of rocks.

After I’d climbed to the top of the mountain I followed its ridge around it to find the valley below choked with smoke.

Fortunately the trail led me down and away from the source of the smoke.

I topped off my water at Hunters Hut before beginning a new ascent.

I enjoyed this new terrain immensely. It reminded me a bit of home.

From Porters Hut, I cranked out the final four miles, stopping once to bath in a swimming hole before pushing on to Red Hills Hut.

  • I had two surprises when I arrived. First, the water tank was empty, forcing me to back track half a mile to fill up at a stream. Annoying. Second, there was only one other hiker there, so I’d finally get to sleep inside! I spent the evening chatting with Vera, a pleasant girl from the Netherlands.
  • Cheers!

    • 1 thought on “Te Araroa – Day 40”

    1. Hope the smoke stays behind you! Yesterday, I noticed on your Day 39 post that several pics had ridgeline smoke rising with the typical pyroculmunus cloud cap over them. It’s amazing with the amount of rain that NZ gets that there’s drier zones at elevation. Very cool you got to stay in a hut, Yay!

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