Got up at 6:00. Last night saw a rat running passed by me, but thank goodness no damage to my food & gears. Wore all my outfit for cold weather, and left the hut at 7:30.
Another very fine day with 5cm powder snow on the ground, no issue for walking. Walking in the entirely white world with no trace on the snow except footprints of a rabbit. As soon as getting to the ridge, the sun rose. In a distance, the top of Mt Aspiring was glowing with sunrise - what a breathtaking scenery!
Ridge walk of Breast Hill that I was going was today the heart of this section and one of the highlights of the TA walk. So appreciated encountering such a great circumstance that I have not expected!!
Arrived at the top of Breast Hill at 9:45. Had a magnificent scenery that I wanted to view for long, but was too cold and could not stay there for even 15 minutes. On my way down, had an early lunch at Pakituhi hut and walked down non stop to Lake Hawea taking extra care not to slip on icy and steep rock ridge.
Arrived at Lake Hawea township early at 14:15. Decided to carry on to Albert Town as the trail was easy to follow. Walked on well maintained flat trail along the river.
At 17:00 checked in at Zulu Lodge at $33 in Albert Town. As almost expected, the lodge was very quiet because of being off-season. Occupied a 4-bunked shared room and communal kitchen and lounge. Made myself completely at home and went to bed at 23:00. Walked 9.5 hours, 34km.
6:00起き。昨夜ネズミがすぐそばを駆け抜けていくのを見たが、幸い被害は何もなかった。防寒着を全て着込み7:30に出発。
とてもよく晴れ、積雪も5cmくらいのサラサラのパウダーで、歩くのに支障はない。ウサギの足跡以外何の痕跡もない真っさらな白銀の世界。ちょうど稜線上に着くと同時に日の出となり、遠くアスパイアリング山の頂上に日が当たるのが見渡せ、絶景に息を飲む。
今日はこのセクションの核心部となるブレスト・ヒルの尾根歩きで、TAのコース中でも最大のハイライトの一つ。自分の望み以上の状況にただ感謝するばかり。
ブレスト・ヒル山頂には9:45着。いつまでも眺めていたい風景だったが風が冷たく、15分も留まってはいられなかった。下りはパキトゥヒ小屋で早めん昼食を食べ、凍結して滑りやすい急な岩尾根に細心の注意を払いながら、一気にハウェア湖畔へと降りる。
ハウェアの町に着いた時はまだ14:15と早く、続く道も楽なので、その先のアルバート・タウンまで行くことにし、川沿いの平坦でよく整備された道を行く。17:00にアルバート・タウンのズールー・ロッジに$33で投宿。半ば予期していたが、4ベッドの相部屋は自分一人で、台所、ラウンジも独占状態と、閑散期なのでとても静かだ。ゆっくり寛ぎ、23:00就寝。本日の歩行9.5時間、34km。
No comments:
Post a Comment