Yesterday I joined three other travelers on a "bonus" day hike on the Glenorchy side of the Routeburn, one of New Zealand's "Great Walks."
The weather in Queenstown is deteriorating, so we had a day of cloud and misty rain. Still, Bruce and Joy from Ontario, Canada, made room in their JUCY rental car for Silka, a German woman, and myself.
First, an incredible ride into the Glenorchy district. Basically, a place hemmed in on all sides by mountain ranges. Choices up here include the Rees-Dart, the Greenstone and the Caples walks. We turned towards the Routeburn, and locked the car by 9am.
By 1pm, we'd made it to the Routeburn Falls hut. The weather had been changing throughout the day: occasional showers, weak sunshine. Made for cool and atmospheric hiking. The "boing boing" of each of the swing bridges only added to the experience. Along the trail we were joined by robins and rifleman birds (cute) and sandflies (not cute).
At the Routeburn Flats turn, we met a large group of students from the University of Otago, coming off 5 days in the backcountry. I chatted with one of the two leaders, who told me that this isn't just a bunch of outdoor education majors. In fact, it's a mixed group of Otago students. UO mandates this course for all students.
So, I've heard of colleges that assign a single book to be read by all undergrads. Looks like Otago goes one better, assigns a 5-day killer tramp for all its future philosophers, financial analysts, doctors, writers, sociologists and historians.
What a great idea, folks!
Is the Routeburn "worth it" in the rain.
Hmm: acquamarine streams, bushclad mountain ranges, pieces of glaciers. I think so.
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