Day 22 - Upper Traverse to Blue Lake Hut

Eyes open. Is it time to start hiking? 1am.. Nope... Eyes close.

Eyes open. Can't belive the guy sleeping next to me is snoring this loud... Eyes close.

Eyes open. Blackness. 4:40am. Good enough.

I quickly brought my gear into the other room to avoid waking up the rest of the hut. Niles and Catherine were there too. We all packed up our bags as quickly as we could, and without eating a scratch of breakfast, we entered the cold dark wildness, beginning our climb towards Traverse Saddle. The stars filled the darkness above, filling us with warmth from it's beauty.

We climbed hard for more than an hour. Each step brought more lightness, and before I could look up from my feet, the stars had gone to sleep, and twilight had entered the valley. The mountains became clear and perfect with light. I was soon left behind by my group as I scrambled to capture each moment before It faded.

Our timing could not have been more perfect. As we reached the top of the saddle, the softest peach and pinks filled the sky. We all threw our packs down - as though we've just took our final steps into bluff - and marveled at every inch of beauty that was around us. It was overwhelming to be honest. I didn't know where to start. Their was a beautiful pond of water that provided ecsqusist reflections. The sharp and jagged rocks provided directional lines to the mountains, and the native plants gave forground you could only find in New Zealand. I was still waking up, but also trying to slow myself down. I took a breathe, took in the moment, and then acted. I went straight to the middle of the pond, soaking my boots and socks with frigid alpine water. I played with the reflections, and then ran to the hills. I was so happy it's hard expressing it in words. It was hard shooting with only a 18mm prime lens, but I enjoyed the challenge. it was a good hour of running around before we stopped to eat some breakfast. I then finally became aware to how cold it was! I quickly put on dry socks, gloves and all my warm weather gear and I was still freezing. Catherine decided to carry on to keep warm, but Niles and I found some sun, and continued watching the longest sunrise of our lives.

Niles left before me, and after taking a few last moment on my own, I carried on down the steep decent toward the valley below. It was a 50% decline that was hard on the knees. I took two ibuprofen up at the saddle before I left as I knew I would be feeling all sorts of hiker pains today.

When I reached the valley I had caught up to Niles and we continued forward as two. The track was muddy and wet, with many stream crossings. While crossing one stream I made a step onto what I thought was a mossy patch of foot grip, but turned out to be a green slippery  rock. My foot shot forward, and the weight of my pack pulled me back with momentum. I dropped my poles - knowing I was going down - but before I could grab hold of anything I went backwards over a short stream fall, and my legs fell over me, soaking myself in the process. Nothing was damaged aside from my dignity, and Niles and I continued forward to West Sabine hut where we stopped for an hour lunch.

After lunch it was an easy 3 hours walk through avalanche effected forest where everything was filled with moss. It was smooth sailing until we reached Blue Lake Hut, our final destination. Blue Lake hut is not just a great hut with a great view, but a 5 min walk from the hut brings you to Blue Lake, which is home to the clearest water in the world. I had to read the signs a few time over to truly belive it, but when I saw the lake there was no denying it. Crystal teal water with a deeper blue than the ocean. The visibility was around 80meteres. You're not allowed to swim in the lake as its a sacred Mauri lake, but the lake flowed down to a stream that was separated with a beautiful little place to have a dip.

Today was absolutely spectacular. Today was the best day I've had on Te Araroa yet. A hike in the darkness, to a mountain summit sunrise, and to the best swim I've ever had in my entire life.