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| This is map of the rough path that I took, pictures of me at the peak are where the push-pin is. |
Quick summary this weekend I went to Fjordland, I will try and give the day by day, quickly (but as thoroughly as possible), so day-by-day summary.
Friday- the adventure begins!
Before we left someone asked my friend where we were going, when they heard they said "Oh, Fiordland, its going to rain." So I entered this trip hoping against hope that it would not rain, at least not the first day. We left at 6:00, went on a 5 hour trip through rolling hills of central Otago, heading towards... Fiordland! Along the way we passed through the town of Gore and then headed to Clinton on the aptly named "presidential highway." Saw the stars through the bus windows, amazing, even though in bus. Apparently there was an aurora, didn't get to see it, so jealous! Got dropped of in this shed-like thing (publicly owned) at the side of the road, and went to sleep. (Apparently we weren't supposed to sleep there. Oh, well.)
Saturday- the tramping begins!
Got up at 6, the earliest of any group! And had porridge for breakfast. Its good stuff. It was cloudy and overcast, we hoped that it would eventually clear up, clouds=wet and no view. Got our stuff together and my group of 6 people began to head out for Emily Peak (see image below for location). Hiked for 4 or 5 hours. During which time we passed two large lakes, numerous bridges and many beautiful waterfalls of varying scales. It also got sunny about an hour into it, so we saw the most amazing peaks, I think I am in love with the landscape. When we reached our valley we headed up it parallel to a stream and then up a dry stream bed.
As we headed up the steeply angled talus slope/dry river stream I could not help but stop and look at all of the different kind of rocks, I think I was in heaven. There were so many! It was fun to look at the variation in rock types and composition as well as look at the veins. I think I managed to get a rudimentary idea of what may have happened there, just broad concepts but still, I love being able to look at a landscape and say why it is there. I think geology was the right choice, well, anyway I enjoy it. (If you want to know more about the geology please message me.)
We had dinner about half-way up our valley, I had fresh mountain water with the meal, it was straight out of the stream, apparently you can do that here, it must be true because I feel fine! We then began out trek up the hill to try and summit Emily peak and we got pretty close, I have some amazing photos from up there (see below). I think I am part mountain goat because I just love jumping around on mountains. (Don't worry, I am partially paranoid of falling so I try not to do anything too stupid. After making it three-quarters up a peak we decided to head down, no rope or helmets, also the moss looked a little slippery. (See? I play it safe.) I also grabbed a rock from the highest point I could get, a little souvenir.
The view was great, we could see into two valley's. The whole time I could not stop thinking "GEOMORPHOLOGY!" It was just so cool to see the obviously glacially cut valleys as well as the braided streams. Again, I was having a great time.
Sadly we had to head down to get ready for the night. Needless to say we got down, and decided to camp next to the lake, we were a little concerned for the weather though, it was supposed to begin raining and be windy all through the night and into the next day. Our living conditions were roughing it, we did not have a tent, or a tarp to sleep on top of, we only had a "fly" or a tarp that was propped up on sticks the kept falling down to keep the elements at bay. Dinner was interesting, not bad, well except for the bit of burn pasta at the bottom, but other than that, not bad. Surprisingly, although it was windy and there were just a few drops of rain, I slept like a rock, it may be just that I was exhausted from the trip, or it may be that I just did not want to mess with anything/I was dry, so why get up and get wet?
Sunday- can you say rain?
It did start raining in the night, but I stayed dry and toasty warm, we even slept in until after ten! It was luxurious, and then we packed, had porridge and began heading back... In the rain, my coat was not thick enough so I got thoroughly soaked. Lessons learned- bring a good coat, have to find one of those now. The rest of the trip was uneventful, we walked back, the setting totally changed with the rain, the view was gone, but it had a mystique about it. Anything could lie beyond those clouds. We got back by three after me a two others broke off from the group to visit a view-point/bog! It was pretty cool to see a bog on top of a mountain, I had to run around that bit. It was the top of a mountain so the droplets were flying straight towards me like bullets and they bit a little. We also had to run because I was thoroughly soaked and as I said "he who hesitates dies of hypothermia." When we made it back I changed and we began the long bus ride back. Not a bad weekend if I do say so myself.
CONCLUSION-DEFINITELY NEED TO GET OUT AND SEE MORE OF THE COUNTRY!
