Day 65 – Top Wairoa Hut to Mid Wairoa Hut

Today reminded me why I enjoyed yesterday’s ridgewalk so much more than all the river walking I’ve been doing. The trail crisscrossed the Wairoa just enough times to keep my feet wet, but not often enough to get used to it, so I still cringed a little at each dunking. Rather than progressing slowly and steadily down along the river, the poorly maintained track would frequently divert up and around bluffs, so I was constantly climbing thirty meters and then descending forty.  The valley I was in was so deep that by two o’clock there was no direct light, so all afternoon it felt like dusk

On top of all that, I was made constantly aware of the deteriorating condition of my boots because I was constantly slipping. I’ve repaired them for stitching failures twice now, but never replaced the tread, and it’s starting to look rather smooth.

I was very glad to reach Mid Wairoa Hut and call it a day, even though it was still early.  There was no way I had the energy left to climb up to Tarn Hut, some four hours away.