8-12 November 2007

From the Psychotic to the Sublime

The Lake Waikaremoana Track

Day 3, Page 6: Waiopaoa to Marauiti

Just here, we have half a boardwalk to take us across this small stream. the other half is in shattered bits nearby, a victim of another falling tree in a recent storm.

They'll just have to find something else to nail their orange triangles to. It must have been an enormous cleanup job...

Up we go again

and down. These tracks are possibly the most comfortable of all to walk on with their slightly springy carpet of dead beech leaves

Kidney fern. I'm a sucker for these

Hello... Old technology.

We're still a way above the water

I like walking through bush like this. It's light and airy and comfortable, pleasant all round.

Here's one the chainsaw hasn't got to yet

Suddenly it's kidney ferns everywhere.

Just recently, kidney ferns have been replaced in the genus hymenophyllum along with the large group of "filmy" ferns. These are also common in wet areas.

Another low branch.

The chainsaw artist has carved a trackside seat out of this fallen log and Miranda enjoys a minutes sit down.

You can see here how Miranda uses the poles for stability and balance when she is descending. As an extra benefit, much of the pounding that knees and ankles take on a downhill stretch is shared more equably between all four limbs.

While beech leaves can be wonderfully comfortable to walk on it pays to keep half an eye out, as they can sometimes disguise a gap or deeper hole, or a crumbling track edge.

It's a steady walk, and a longish one, and we are not pushing things.

The lake is pretty much a constant feature.