From the Psychotic to the Sublime

The Lake Waikaremoana Track

Day 3, Page 5: Waiopaoa to Marauiti

Another small white flower makes an appearance at the side of the track

This is the last of the level track for a bit. We now start a gradual climb that takes us well above the lake

Suddenly, maidenhair fern, Adiantum species, are flavour of the day.

Storm debris are everywhere through here

We're now well up, and the track is sidling around quite steep bluffs.

A young beech puts on a vibrant display of colour

These bits of track are always vulnerable to storms and slips.

In fact, boardwalks are often necessary to bridge particularly vulnerable sections. We're not far from the lake's edge but the vegetation has already changed markedly.

I'm not all that keen on edging my way past wet rocky shelves like this. It's often difficult to find somewhere my sticks can find purchase.

The bush is getting taller and an almost ecclesiastical twilight settles in.

Down below, the lake is turquoise and crystal clear. Somewhere along here we (Miranda has caught up a little way back) meet a party of a dozen or so elderly ladies, at least one of whom is already having some difficulties with height issues. They are en route for Onepoto via Panekiri, and I think of them often over the next couple of days. The youngest of them would be my age.

And down again

You can see how clear the water is. The bottom is clearly visible from here in water that is probably waist deep.

This is dangerous? When did the last DoC ranger look at Day 1.

I'm grumpy, a little resentful, and definitely not in the here and now. Maybe a swallow of water and a mouthful of fruit leather. It pays to keep an eye on one's internal landscape as well as on the immediate surroundings.

We're descending quite sharply just here.

Everywhere along the track are the remnants of storm damage. That must have been one hell of a storm, and anyone caught in it along here must have been pretty much wetting themselves as trees crashed around them. I wonder if there's anyone with a story to tell about that....

We're descending and climbing,descending and climbing, as we make our way around the shore about 100 metres or so inland and upland from the lake. It's mostly cheerful walking on a good surface, with an occasional sidle around a narrowish ledge.

Miranda has carried a full pack all the way along here, and even though she's pretty fit, she's starting to feel it's weight. We pull over for a break and get rid of some tea and crackers.