Day 12 - Hacket hut to Slaty Hut

Everyone was packing up and getting ready to hit the trail by the time I got out of my tent. I like to start my days slow. As I was leaving camp, Mitch and Tomas showed up. It was good to see that my first friends on the TA were still on track with me. The trail notes told me there were 9 stream crossings today and then a 3000 foot climb to Slaty hut.

I left camp with good speed, and was soon faced with my first stream crossing of the day. Knee high water with a bit of a heavy current from the recent flooding. My trekking poles worked as great guides, and after crossing my third stream I was confident to tackle the rest. I soon met up with Dan and started hiking with him. After our 4th stream crossing we lost sight of the next marker, and started following a trail up the Ridge. The small trail was filled with wasps, and at one point I had to sprint past a nest. It wasn't long before I realized we followed a false trail. I checked my GPS and sure enough we had gone off track. Back down the hill we went, past the wasp nest and back to the river. We spotted the poorly placed marker off in the distance and continued on.

After our 9th crossing we stopped to ring out our socks and boots, and started the 3000 ft climb to Slaty Hut.

By mid afternoon I reached Starvil hut, and took a break for lunch. I let me tent air out its condensation from the night before, and chatted with my new large group of hiking friends. Sounds like everyone but the Australian couple were heading to Slaty hut, which meant it would be a full hut tonight, again. I wasn't sure if I would stay here at Starvil hut or push on to Slaty hut, but decided I would continue and make the miles while the sun was shinning.

Up, up, up I went, and then down, and then back up.

I eventually made it to the ridge and was rewarded with spectacular views of the valley I came from. I could even see the coast in the far off distance

By 6pm I reach Slaty hut and was not surprised to find that all the bunks were taken. I was too exhausted to decide where I would sleep and instead made dinner, stretched and relaxed.

When sunset came, we all rushed up to lookout to watch the valley turn to shadow. It's hard to explain the feeling. Seeing the land from a grand vista, and knowing my legs had brought me further than the distance I could see.

When I returned to Camp, Justin and myself decided we would cowboy camp on the high ridge. We knew there was no rain forcast for tonight, so our only concern was the dew. But there one other concern we did not consider.

A few hours after darkness fell, Justin awoke to take care of some business. As he walked into the woods I heard the loud Scratchy sound of claws scurrying up a tree not 3 feet from where I lay. "Possums" I yelled! I kept my food hidden and my bag close. They didn't bother me while I slept, but they did bother Justin. 5 surrounded his pack and pad when he came back from the forest, slowly moving in for the steal. one even found Justin's shirt that was hung up in a tree and ate a few holes out of his salty armpits.