Misty Mountain Hike

After my adventures in Arizona, I returned to New Zealand and quickly made my way back to Arthur's Pass. After about 5 weeks on the move, I was ready to put down my three bags. In the two months since I returned to work, I have seen Flight of the Conchords perform live; cooked a crayfish (lobster) tail for the first time; and now, explored another part of Arthur's Pass National Park.

One of my co-workers knows this area like the back of his hand, having been a regular visitor and fervent hiker since his teenage years. Today, the weather was perfect, and we made our way to the Bealey Spur Path. Although it doesn't lead to a peak, it provides an excellent view in all directions.

The walk took us through mud and snow, the first real test of my new hiking boots (they passed). It's been a poor ski season, but it seems the snow has been falling, just not in the right places.

 This walk also saw my introduction to backcountry huts. New Zealand's National Parks are dotted with these little cabins, which provide varying degrees of protection from the elements. This one is pretty basic. It's an old mustering shed for the sheep station that used to operate in the area. An informational sign inside referred to an author who said its beds were the most uncomfortable he'd ever slept on. The sign casually continued with a boast that little had changed since it was first built.