Day 52 in Te Araroa

Day 2 of the Tararua Ranges

I felt miserable today.

The morning I was walking along a ridge and the only thing I thought was:

1. slow is smooth and smooth is fast
2. calm breathing
3. Keep my heart rate down

I’m afraid I haven’t brought enough food for this section (Tararua Range) because the weather might force us to stay out another day. We prepared for this, but I think I’m hungrier than normal because the terrain has been crazy.

The second part of the day (after lunch) was only 5km. It took me more than 2.5 hours. It was predicted that there would be lightning and where was I when it started to rain? About to ascend the ridge. Luckily I didn’t end up getting close to any strikes, but it definitely made me pick up the pace. Like I may or may not have literally started running uphill. I had to remind myself to relax because I was getting overwhelmed and trying to go as fast as possible on incredibly technical terrain.

I thought I was lost for a second because all my apps said I was out of the way, but there was literally nowhere else I could have gone. Then I looked down… I saw one of Sam’s Werther’s wrappers and knew I was on the right track. TRASH MISTAKE!!! But TFG was also there.

The trail simply descended. Like literally rock climbing and climbing today. I was very confused because it got very technical very quickly, unlike anything we had been hiking earlier that day. A clear reminder that this is a TRAMP, not a hike.

In the last two kilometers the only thing I was thinking was “as long as I keep moving, time will pass and eventually it will take me to the cabin.” It’s not that I don’t have the fitness or stamina because that’s not the problem, it’s the misery associated with pouring rain for hours on end when you’re just trying to go for a walk!

That’s one difference for me between Te Araroa and PCT. On the PCT I wanted teleportation, something that would magically get me from point A to point B. With this hike, my physical and mental stamina is there; it’s just a matter of literally getting there, if that makes sense? I’m not thinking about teleporting, I’m just focusing on moving and remembering that time passes and I can always reach the destination.

I didn’t like it today. I have very little energy and I’m not enjoying it – and that’s just being brutally honest. I’m grateful to have Sam and I honestly don’t know how I would continue on this path if he wasn’t here. Not pushing him, but the joy of seeing him after we both lowered our heads and pushed him away, only to be greeted with a hug like we both knew it sucked but would eventually end. It’s not something I take for granted.

But today I have very little energy. I didn’t want to cry about the weather, I thought that would be stupid.

Putting on wet clothes, socks and shoes for the third day in a row is also not something I enjoy. It’s what I expected and I can do it but I don’t have fun doing it.

Those are my complaints for now. But tomorrow is the new year and all that could change, right?

Verdict: One day of misery per walk is allowed and I chose the last day of the year.

*The videos of the day are uploaded to my Instagram; the photos don’t do the day justice * @sigridmckay

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