We drove up highway 309. The term highway is loose here in
New Zealand. I sense it's a relative term. If it's the only road going from
here to there, then it's the highway.
We branched off, and climbed for a couple of kms on good but
steep logging roads. They were in remarkably good shape given the rains we had
gotten over the past couple of days. There were a few washouts, but it spoke
highly of their ability to build roads through mountainous terrain mainly by using good
grading techniques.
When we reached the trailhead (probably called the trackhead
here in NZ), the road carried on, but we left our car and started our tramp.
In a couple of
minutes, we were on a single track, and shortly after that we were in dense
bush having difficulty negotiating rocks and roots. The problem was, I still
had my sunglasses on. Even though it was sunny above, at ground level under the
heavy canopy, it was dark.
Not only was it dark, it was also damp. No, better described
as still wet from the recent rains. Dressed in T-shirt and shorts, we were
getting as wet as if it was raining. We hadn't brought our rain gear of course.
However, it was warm, and we were working up a sweat anyway.
Our walk turned into a climb. Between the rocks and roots,
was a beige coloured clay. It was very slippery. On its own we could usually
step around it for footing a rock or
root. But of course as we went, our hikers got muddy, and placing muddy soles
on wet rocks and roots left no room for error.
The trail was steep enough at times, we were on all fours
going from hand-hold to foot-hold. We hadn't come equipped for the inevitable
slip and tumble. We made it about half way to the summit before admitting that
we weren't going to make it. With disappointment, we turned around. Of course, the hand-hold to foot-hold wasn't
so natural on the way down, but we descended without incident.
Castle Rock had won. The score, Castle Rock 1, Steve and
Marlene, zero. But the good news was, we didn't leave any blood on the trail. The
challenge of Castle Rock remains for another day, and if we choose to return, we'll
make sure the trail is dryer and that we're better equipped.
http://travellingwithsteveandmarlene.blogspot.ca/2014/03/living-life-of-kiwi.html
