A Ridge Too Far...

The Mavora Walkway

Day 3 page 2 Taipo to Boundary

We are now heading up onto the slopes above the river.

This doesn't look like a big deal, but it's knee deep in places and quite swift. There's an orange post either side of the stream but no access at that point either in or out. We have to hunt around for a way to get down,

photo by miranda woodward

and then wade for a while until we can find a way out. We meet our first spaniards.

These fellows have needle sharp points and a residual stiffness that will drive them home a centimetre or so if you hit one unawares. I carefully avoid this one, which is right beside my chosen exit point for the river crossing, but in doing so put my hand on a dead leaf on the ground, which is just as sharp. Mike is still carrying unhealed wounds from such an encounter in the Rees-Dart over a week or so.

The path is now barely visible, and increasingly it's a matter of locating the next pole and finding our own route towards it.

This, I think, is one of the alpine hebes.

We meet our first fence. No gates, and we figure the best way is under, so off with the gear and sit for a couple of minutes on the other side. We've been going a bit under two hours.

We're heading up the slope into the scrub.

Any minute now I expect to see the three weird sisters from Macbeth, but all we can manage is a Scottish couple about half an hour on, on their way from Boundary to Taipo. They met Carol and Mike on the way through last night.

Now where's the next bloody one. It's still early but there's more than a hint of what the sun has in store for us. This is the beginning of the range that overshadows Boundary Hut, but there's a fair way to go yet.

Extreme temperatures are immensely powerful. This was once a single rock, and you can see how it's been cracked apart.

Packs off. Not just an ordinary packs off. Miranda is too buggered to move any further. No cup of tea. No snacks. Her tummy can't cope. We take about ten minutes and then she hoists her pack again. Today I am going to learn a whole new lesson about keeping on. No moaning. No complaining. They use up energy she hasn't got to spare.

Right alongside of us are what look like small-leaved coprosmas, one with yellow berries

and one with red

We continue picking our way across these rocky outcrops.

Down below us the Mararoa River winds along the valley towards the Mavora Lakes.

Closer to hand, Miranda discovers she is being watched from a small burrow in the side of the bank.

photo by miranda woodward

A ferret! (Initially we identified it as a stoat, but DOC tells us that the dark mask identifies a ferret.) We pause for a photo opportunity, and the little fellow obliges. Given their predatory nature, it would be nice if we could wave a wand and make it disappear, but it's rare we get a chance to see one this close.

photo by miranda woodward