Cuts and Blood

While hiking 120km over 5 days on the Hollyford Track in Fiordland National Park, North of Milford Sound, I wrote directly in my journey at least once a day. Below are a few excerpts from my journal. There will be a separate post for Day 4 because it was a lot longer and more interesting. There's nothing from Day 5 because I was too exhausted. I'll post a few photos but most were taken on my digital camera so you'll have to wait for those until I get access to a computer!

And although most of what I wrote about was the hard struggles don't worry I still had fun. But the funniest parts primarily revolved around weeing in a variety of places and poses, mostly with close to, or zero, privacy. It's hilarious. Or, the sheer ridiculousness of the trail.

Enjoy.

Day 1 - Hollyford Track: Evening at Alabaster Hut
November 12th, 2015

Okay so I'm in the middle of Fiordland and it's amazing and beautiful. I'll passed two waterfalls that were mind blowing. I slipped on the rocks beneath one and banged my right knee straight on a rock. My left hamstring feels pulled. My hips hurt. My glutes felt tight and worked the entire time. My knees ached. My ankles bent every which way. My bag creaked and clattered and didn't sit evenly.

Day 2 - Hollyford Track: Evening @Hokuri Hut
November 13th, 2015

I haven't had a real hug in weeks. Actually not really any hugs at all to be honest. First of all, hugs aren't as common internationally. Secondly, when you're around strangers and new friends it doesn't happen as often. I think my best hug maybe came from my couch surfing host in Kauia. I also got a good few from my surfing buddy and dance partner in the Byron Bay. Physical contact is important for mental and emotional health. I know I'll get a good hug at some point and I know I need it soon. I'm looking forward to that hug. Don't know who it will be from or when it will happen but I am just looking forward to a really good one.

Day 3 - Hollyford Track: Morning @ Horuki Hut
November 14th, 2015

Yesterday was brutal. It was a long day with long miles and all of it was rock climbing, scrambling, going off trail to go around mud and fallen trees. We did 24.3km, which is 15.1 miles. This is longer than our longest day on the JMT. Yes no where near the elevation gain or overall elevation, but still it's a long distance with heavy packs. And this time I didn't have like 10 days straight on the trail to train and get my body prepared for it.

We all got cut, actually cuts with blood. We all got bruises. We all hated the trail for the most part at the end, but were determined to get to the next hut. We got in around 9pm.

My glutes hurt, but in a good way of course. Just surprisingly so. My lower back hurt and is still killing me now. I think I need to work on my pack adjustment. My knees were the worse though. I feel so old, once again. It's this new thing that happens on a daily basis now. Every step down aches - like sharp pain not just aches. I'm honestly really worried about my left knee because it's been acting up again and has been creaking/crackling for at least a year. I think that I should actually get it checked out so that I don't create any permanent damage.

On the trail today, I thought about how I don't want to backpack anymore! I've been doing this so much in the last year and a half. The number of nights I've spent backpacking is much higher than the average person. And I'm ready for a break!!! I want my own place and my own dishes and my own bed. I want to invite people over. I need a job! I realize uve had way too many hours to think and process feelings. Having a job gives your mind a break from everything else. It's not a distraction but your mind needs to think about different things in order to not get worn out. If you're a stay at home mom, then all you think about is your kids and that will drive someone crazy. All I have to think about is my mom and my career (or lack there of), romantic relationships and writing. And no break from it! Just round and round my mind goes. This is why I like to spend time with other people now ; it gives me a break from my mind because I can hear about and talk about other things.

But things are cleared now. I'm ready to go and move somewhere new. And I'm getting really excited about it. And I have kind of a plan for it to be easy. I've thought of mentors I want to connect with regarding my business idea. I've thought about the likelihood of needing to go back to school and his that might affect my plans. I'm pretty much decided on where I want to move, but realize this might change over the next month. But it's exciting to be making progress, have ideas, a vague plan, and something to look forward to. A lot to look forward to! A life!!!

Day 3 - Hollyford Track: Afternoon/Evening at Martin's Bay Hut
November 14th, 2015

We just finished hiking in the rain all day. Here's some thoughts:

I may fall in love with other people's homes but I need to create a home for myself that I am in love with and invite people there. I need to have a place to share with others. But then, how does that leave me when I want to travel? And I need to make sure to have an extra room or at least significant space for family/friends and travellers. But how do I afford that on a waitress or bartender salary?

Shite.

Today was surprising because I feel like I was more okay with the rain than my trail mates. It wasn't because I was more dry. My rain gear kinda did crap today. My rain oanta were definitely too short. The bottom of them creeped up and revealed a good four inches of my hiking pants. And then the waistband I was basically sagging so all the water went down the back of my rain pants. My hiking pants got soaked. My underwear got soaked. My bra was soaked. My hiking shirt was soaked. My socks got soaked. Everything. But I've gotten smarter and more tolerant. My base layers were all in my small dry turquoise osprey dry sack that I got from my trail mate before the JMT. Long REI thick long underwear pants, grey and green MacPac wool jumper (sweater), blue REI wool socks. Then my sleeping bag in my dry compression sac. And even though I was drenched, my body was surprisingly warm. We all ran the last stretch! And as soon as I rounded the bend and saw Martin's Bay, I knew we were close.

When I turned the corner and saw theninket of the ocean of Martin's Bay I had flashbacks of almost a year ago, bringing the fishing boat in - gingerly - and my boss, pointing out this exact hut. "Wait, you can hike here?" I exclaimed with heaps of excitement. It's awesome that I made it back here. I may not have done the Pyke/Big Bay loop but I made it here. A new experience in a new place with find memories related.
...
I just went down to the beach and took about 50 photos of the sunset. The smile that came across my face reminded me of the smile I had at the Big Bay. I was covered in sandflies, but luckily smart enough to be clothed from head to toe, except for my face. I still had sandflies lining my legs and arms, and a few swooping into my hood, nibbling my neck and ears. It brought me back to the day j stripped down in my skivvies (actually think I went full nude because that's the Kiwi way) and got my wetsuit on quicker than I ever have I ever will, out of fear of sandfly bites. I was so excited to get into the water that I forgot my surfboard.

Hmm, now I feel like I'm writing about things I've already written about.