Getting up at 5am after sleeping on the floor was easier than anticipated. Sam and I got ready and packed our things with ease and didn’t have to worry about waking anyone else because we were sleeping in the hallway.
I was ready and waited for Sam on the steps of the radio building. We went out with our raincoats because it was very foggy. Not a single car passed us all morning as we headed to Ōmahatu Forest.
Once we descended into the forest we noticed a helicopter flying around. I said they were probably goat hunters because there was a sign earlier that said they were actively hunting in the area. I said it even though I didn’t believe it was true.
It ended up being Search and Rescue pulling a hiker out of a very steep and muddy section. We met his wife and she said his knees were already bad and when he fell they heard a crack. It’s good to know that Garmin SOS works as it should! It was a pretty sobering reminder that anything can happen… to anyone at any time.
Once we reached the valley, the trail literally walked across a stream leading to the Waipapa River. We didn’t need to check the trail map more than once because there was nowhere else to go except towards the river.
Crossing the river was an adventure: Sam and I made it without getting any of our gear wet. I may or may not have crossed the river 3 times to make sure nothing fell out of my bag…
We had a long lunch and some foreshadowing: I didn’t take my shoes off on our break after being in the water all morning.
Returning to a dirt and mud trail proved to be quite technical. In my opinion, Te Araroa is definitely not a hike suitable for beginners.. I honestly think hiking in New Zealand is next level. Since there are no predators in the environment, you yourself are the biggest threat to completing the hike. The weather could also be included in that as it is super intense and I have found that no two days are the same.
Finally, leaving the rainforest and climbing the most flights of stairs (300m elevation gain), came a dirt road. I started to feel like my feet were getting blisters, so I stopped to take off my shoes on the side of the gravel road and evaluate. Turns out they weren’t blisters and even more so what looked like the beginnings of trench foot.
I gathered myself and my things. I took a deep breath, put on my sleeping socks, and continued walking the last 5km to camp. Finally, arriving completely exhausted, Sam greeted me with a hug. That was a great day, but we still crushed it.
Verdict: Always take off your soaked shoes at lunchtime.
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