From the Richmond Ranges we went round to St Arnaud and met up with Mark again. We refuelled and headed back into the hills for the Travers Saddle and Waiaua Pass. This part was the most challenging of the trail so I was packing myself wondering how it was going to be and if I was going to be able to do it. I had even seriously considered going around and leaving Wayne and Mark to go on without me.
The first day 5 Jan we hiked 31 km up the valley from St Arnaud to the Upper Travers Hut. It was a beautiful walk with lovely scenery.
The huts in the Nelson Lakes Park are much more popular than the Richmond Ranges huts so were a lot more occupied. We met and chatted with some great people. There are a lot of different tracks that are popular in that area.
The next morning we were up and off early to get over the Travers Saddle. It took us just an hour to reach the top and then down and over the other side which was not as hard as I thought it would be. The sense of achievement was good.
We stopped for lunch at West Sabine Hut where Mark had to do a consult for a girl who had sprained her ankle the day before and still couldn't put her boot on. It makes you realize how remote we were as for her to walk out would have been 8 hours! They had sent a message out with another tramping party and the chopper arrived to pick her up about 10 minutes after we left.
We tramped on up the valley and stayed at the Blue Lake Hut. Again the hut was pretty popular and we met with a couple, Dylan and Rebecca who had come over the Waiaua Pass the day before and were going back over the next day the same as us. It was good to hear about the Pass first hand. I was still very nervous and scared so not a lot of sleep happened that night!
Over the Pass we went the next day and yes was scary in places but not as bad as I thought it would be. Climbing from Little Rintoul to Mt Rintoul in the Richmond Ranges was worse by far.
Over the Pass we had some steep descents then long valley walks joining with the St James Walkway until Boyle Village. Down in the valley there were no huts so we had to camp one night. The sand flies were so bad we had to eat dinner in our tent and the next morning pack up and leave without breakfast. They were so awful we stopped for a break about 10 am for a cup of tea and we couldn't sit still to drink it we had to keep walking and drinking at the same time! And that was with using insect repellent!
We stayed one night at this lovely hut Anne River Hut. It was quite new and warm with nets on the windows so you could get some fresh air with out insects. All the other huts you have to keep windows and doors closed up to keep them out.
After Boyle Village we hitched to Hamner Springs where we spent a couple of days resting as we were pretty shattered.
Mark spent one night with us then headed home to Waiuku. We stayed at a great campground called Hamner Springs Forest Camp 3 km from Hamner. We spent 2 nights there then used our Christmas present from our lovely children which was a Hamner Pamper Pack. This entailed a night at the Settlers Motel a steam treatment a massage and spa pool and free entry to the hot pools. Just what we needed after the previous hard couple of weeks. Thank you Anna Sam and Sean.
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