Many thanks to the good folk at www.memory-map.co.nz for permission to use graphics from their software and toposheets

This is where we part company with Carol and Mike. They are headed for the Upper Caples Hut, which should give them plenty to do. Reaching the McKellar Saddle involves negotiating an extremely steep climb straight up the side of the hill. If the previous bit was a walk to the dairy, this bit involves catching your wild cow and then handmilking it.

Fatman time to here has been 1 hr 26 compared to 1 hr DoC estimate.

When the stream level and the surrounding land are pretty much the same, you can expect boggy conditions. River valley walking is not just a tiptoe through the tussocks.

The path underfoot is definitely springy. It's an unusual sensation.

Guided walk, anybody?

This is one of those moments that we do all the walking for, if we have time to stop and get the full benefit of them. Lake McKellar against a backdrop of bush, mountain and soft cloud is beautiful. It's still (relatively) early and there's quite a bit of low cloud about in the valleys.

Back into the bush. The light and shadow are now making much more of a visual impact.

Lake McKellar continues beside us through the trees.

Part way along, there's a small stony beach that invites a stop and a picnic lunch in the sun.

A stumble draws our attention back to the path, which has become somewhat root-ridden. In this semi-open bush, Crown fern thrive.

We continue along a path which is pleasant but has now lost a little of its initial novelty.

The odd stream crossing adds a little variety. My faithful Merrells have sprung a leak in the right boot. I'm a trifle disappointed. Three years is minimal life for boots in this price-range, comfortable as they are.

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