27 February, 2008

Gentle Annie Track

Mt Holdsworth

page 5

Here's a luxuriant mossy outgrowth. Very tactile. I feel like stroking it.

Partly open track and partly dappled shade. I still wonder - and touch wood - that after 4 years of considerable activity, I still have ahead of me my first real bad weather day tramping.

Pig Flat is an unlovely name for a rather beautiful stretch of walking.

Even though we're quite a way up, the area is often boggy and boardwalk takes us across the more vulnerable areas.

There's a lot of flax up here. I spend a little time hunting for a flax stick. Not many to be seen, but when I find one I confirm a mountain flax.

Down by my feet, I suddenly come across a mountain gentian. They are very similar to the more common wild gentian, but as Salmon's photo was taken at Mt Holdsworth, I kid myself I have the less common variety.

Here's an even clearer shot. I have a special macro lens but mostly, when I really want to use it there's not a lot of light to be had, and focussing becomes a chore, besides which I am trying to protect from damage the normal UV filter and hood which I have to remove first. But now and again I get a good opportunity.

The track is interesting and varied, and regular enough for me to take my eyes off to the side. There's some flowers on the Dr Seuss tree.

Up ahead is Powell hut, just above the tree line, and the track begins to head downhill, which is a little disconcerting.

A creamy pratia catches my eye.

Definitely downhill

Here's the turnoff down the ridge to the Atiwhakatu River.

The track becomes steeper and rougher.