Day 5: Waterfall Day

Muddy beginnings on the trail.

The walk to Bert Nichols Hut was shortish and fairly uneventful. We steadily climbed up hill through forests, and took a couple of side trips down gully's to view waterfalls. The first, D'Alton Falls was huge and magnificent. I wanted to climb down to the bottom but I heard it was very steep (nearly vertical) so I passed. (On the last day I learned that one woman tumbled at the top, losing her grip, and nearly fell off the cliff at this waterfall.) Considering how off my balance was without my pack on and how little I could feel with my feet under my stiff boots, the risk wasn't worth it.

We continued on though and visited the second falls turn off on the track for Hartnett Falls. It wasn't as big but just as beautiful and this time I could climb down to the bottom.

The lovely little gully beneath Hartnett Falls. I wish I had had enough camera battery to stay here and take photos all day. It was like walking through an enchanted forest.

I had to hug a rock wall to get this close to the waterfall. I was so worried I would fall in and be walking home in wet boots!

Climbing back up the gully, we stopped and ate ramen noodles for lunch before pushing on to Windy Ridge and the Du Cane Gap. Along the way we stopped for a snack and rest at Du Cane Hut (a historic hut only for use in emergencies). It wasn't really much of a hut. More like the Shrieking Shack from Harry Potter! The log book was full of humorous open stories continued by months and months of travelers. Something about a hot tub and a love affair gone awry...

Approaching Du Cane Hut! A welcome sight and relief from the rain.

Not my first choice of beds.

We crossed the Du Cane Gap early in the afternoon with little fanfare. The clouds had moved in a bit and there wasn't as much to see. Descending the other side, we quickly arrived at Bert Nichols hut. That night we cooked dinner with Auke and Eline (our new Dutch friends!) and shared some tasty desserts: apple pie and astronaut ice cream! We talked for hours and it was really refreshing to just enjoy someone's company.

What is it? Astronaut ice cream has had all the water vaporized out of it so it's basically like a condensed block of cotton candy. The moment you put it on your tongue though, it melts into perfect ice cream. Pretty strange but absolutely amazing. I will be taking one for every night next time I go hiking!

Bert Nichols is by far the nicest hut with a very recent renovation. They even had artwork! Though the toilets smelled worst at this hut. This was a separate room just for cooking with LOTS of tables! So different from Kia Ora Hut the night before!

There wasn't much of a view that night with rain falling from the early evening through the morning, but we were warm, cozy and happy. The trip was almost over and this night was the last time I would really feel like I was in the wild.