Te Araroa 29/01/26

Day 130, Fern Burn Hut to Highland Creek Hut (2672)

Another beautiful morning, some clouds but blue sky as well.

Looking back to Fern Creek Hut 

Today's route was a steep climb up to Jack Halls Saddle at 1275 meters followed by an even steeper descent to the Highland Creek Hut.

Narrow path sidling round the hill

It was a strenuous climb but the path was relatively good with only a few overgrown bits. 

Steep hillside 

Lots of little lizards (gekos, skinks?) were out sunning themselves and scuttled away from my feet and I saw a hare. It looked like an ordinary brown hare, at home there would only be mountain (blue) hares at that height.

Wild man of the hills

More incredible views

Good views back to Lake Wānaka and even better ones down towards Highland Creek from the top.

Lovely path

I spoke to a couple of people climbing up from the south and they told me that the next section was very hard, which I suspected anyway, and although I probably had time to get to the next hut I had lunch at Highland Creek and decided to stay.

Hut in the distance 

I'm feeling old today anyway so an afternoon nap may be called for. My nap was disturbed by a young German girl who had walked in from Glendhu (rocket powered?) and decided to stay as well.

View from the hut 

Another good hut with a view.