Final part of Walk on the Wild Side
February 7th 2007 08:16
It said about 3 hours, so by 9pm we should be on the road, hopefully back at Arthur’s Pass by 10pm and back at the back packers where we had beds booked for the night.
So feeling slightly refreshed, we set off not realising that what the condition of the track would be like. If you look at the photo can you see the track? We couldn’t half the time either.
By this time the sun had slipped behind the mountains and the valley was slowly falling into shadow. We found the dry river bed, scrambling down to the real river, but the terrain was tough and there was almost no light.
Tough Going!!
Crossing that sort of terrain, when you are running on empty, losing the light is just asking for trouble!!
With it becoming almost too dark to see properly, our main thoughts were upon finding a good place to camp for the night. Lit was hard to find anywhere as we were next to a river in a steep sided valley. But At 10pm and in near total darkness we spotted a likely place. The river’s main course was on the left with a large rocky island in the middle and a gentle meandering stream on the right, so it was here that we found the best spot we could.
We were so tired, that we both felt sick as we had been on the go for about 14hours. Thank goodness for the torch, chemical sanp light and emergency food that I had bought along. Mind you I could only manage heating up a cupa soup.
As we lay there, we knew that we would be listed as overdue, but at that moment were too tired and sick feeling to worry too much about it. Didn’t get too much sleep and I awoke in the evening to see that the stars were all covered by low cloud. The sort of low clouds that can drop a lot rain in a very short time and where were we camping? In a steep sided valley next to a mountain river.
Luckily it didn’t rain, but I can say we didn’t sleep that much, finally getting up at about 6am, with both of us aching all over from the marathon tramp the day before. Seeing the route ahead in daylight, made us realise that it had been the right choice to stop when we did, for a few parts were pretty tricky and it would have been too dangerous.
Morning after, do I look happy or what?
We finally reached the rail bridge at about 8.30am walking to the road 40 minutes later. We only waited 20 minutes before we were picked up and driven back to Arthur’s Pass where we informed the ranger’s office that we were okay.
They had phoned Steve’s parents just to see if we were at home, but generally they will wait until you are 48 hours overdue before sending out search and rescue.
I can honestly say that I found out a few things about myself on this trip, 14 hours tramping was a bloody good effort, in hard conditions, so pleased about that. Also pleased to be faced with a choice about carrying on or not and making the sensible decision.
And it is always nice to carry emergency food, lights etc and to finally have it with you when you need it.
Note
As we walked up to the falls hut, the trampers we passed, told us that they had come up this route and that it was a little knarly? But having come down it and the fact that it is easier to descend than to climb. I would have to say that it would have been a right bastard and I don’t think we would have been able to do in all honesty.
But to be fair to us, these guys were mult- sport types travelling fast and light.
And that is the tale of A Walk on the Wild Side, and would I do it again? If my knees were upto it, hell yeah!!
Anyway, been a very nice day in Chch although busy at work and bit of a grump day do to getting disappointed by someone but oh well s**t happens. As the police say 'Move along, nothing to see here'
Some more words of wisdom from Baggins and Smudge
' Never sleep alone when you can sleep on someones face'
Thanks moggies, now will you please the curtains alone?
Hal
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