Monday 3^rd. March.

Very heavy rain in the night, but it had stopped by daybreak, and the sky looks a bit more promising for my intended walk up the start of the Routeburn Track. The temperature is about 6˚C.

Drive the 85 km. towards Milford again to the start. Cloud not too low, a few bits of blue sky, and glimpses of mountains: so more promise than expected from the forecast then: but they have a coating of snow that wasn’t there yesterday. 

Set off up the track with fleece on, and, poles in hand, realise how cold it is, especially as I get higher, having brought neither hat nor gloves to NZ. Unexpected, but nothing I am not used to in UK, but Pat R. would definitely have had them on. 

The track starts at 532 metres and I hadn’t realised that my goal of Lake MacKenzie was only 889 metres, and over a distance of 10km. it meant that I would be doing a lot of level contouring and a little upward track. It also meant that most of it would be in native bush, which although interesting can become a bit monotonous, if you are expecting to get above it to grass and rock. 

At least there are occasional clearing in the bush, and some breaks in the swirling cloud giving mostly tantalising and teasing glimpses of mountains around, covered in fresh snow. Could have gone to Scotland for this cold and snow

 

 

 

First waypoint is the Howden Hut only one hour from the road, for the older steady walkers no doubt: you do have to carry all your food in.

The weather forecast posted by the Warden: Gales and Blizzards. Should have gone to Scotland. Only kidding: I wouldn’t have missed NZ for anything. 

Tremendous waterfall that nearly drenches you at one point as you pass very close.

Then yet more bush track.

 

As you see from that picture the track is well engineered; it would appear that in all aspects of tourism and recreation the Kiwis have very much copied the Swiss. You just cannot get lost as you just follow the Grey Gravel Road. However anyone found a way through this bush I cannot imagine, never mind engineered to the standard you see. To walk off track would be almost impossibly difficult, and the slope is generally about 60 degrees, so if you slipped off, the trees would stop you at some point, but you would still be seriously hurt by that fall.

A good deal of very fine hail for a while, so waterproofs on for warmth more than dryness. 

Reach the MacKenzie Lake and Hut in 3 ¾ hours and have lunch.

 

 

 

Also find there is an Alpine Lodge up there for the paying guided Americans. It is like Motel in the Sky. The only way in is the long walk, but I assume supplies are helicoptered in. 

Only way out is as in, some threatening rain never really materailises, some sun, so a bit warmer, and the swirling cloud above keeps breaking in occasional fine views, so a very pleasant 7 hour outing overall.