Routeburn Falls Hut

Soon the trail started to descend past a fabulous waterfall to the hut where we were staying. The hut was perched at the bottom of the waterfall with a veranda all around with fantastic views of the valley where we were headed tomorrow.

Hut was a similar kind of set up to the previous one but a MUCH nicer version of it. As we were some of the first to arrive we got pick of the beds so we got bunks this time. Nice place to hang out on our last night.

Lake something

The trail continued on clinging to the near vertical rock face around a lake - woo!

"Brian, you are very small"

"That's because I'm a long way away!"

A photo of Bri atop Conical Hill - oh, and some mountains!

Harris Sadle

Eventually came out the the highest point of the trail at 1300m. From there we dropped our packs at the shelter and climbed even higher up Conical Hill - pretty hard even when we weren't laden down with stuff - the air was pretty thin and had to stop constantly to get our breath back. Views from the top all the way to the West coast - well worth the climb!

The road goes on

and on. After the initial climb the track sided round the mountain with amazing views of the valley. It's all so enormous you can't get it in a photo - one of the nicest parts of the day :-)

Within the hour

The trail climbed steeply away from the huts and an hour able we were able to look back at where we'd come from - it's there very small at the bottom of the valley. Always surprising how fast out gain height sometimes although I must say carrying Heavy packs takes it out of you!

The morning after the night before

Well hardly slept a wink with everyone wriggling around on the plastic hospital mattresses and snoring. Give me a hotel room with en-suite any day! Climbed out of bed at 6:30 as there was no point pretending any more and made our breakfast and were ready to head off by 7:45. Weather still defying all the odds with perfect blue skies - amazing!