Prudence Prevails?
I had been itchin' (foreshadowing) to get out on a bigger hike to explore the Banks Peninsula, and so today, finally equipped with appropriate footwear, I chose the Kaituna Valley track as my entry point.
The track starts off as an easy meander through rolling hills, dotted with sheep & willows. Larger hills beckon in the distance.
Hmm, what an interesting and non-ominous sign, I thought to myself. A warning for other, less experienced hikers who aren't me, I thought.
Wow, those plants do indeed look menacing, I thought. What kind of idiot could possibly blunder his way into THAT?
It was a brilliant day; light, lacy clouds tracking over the mountains in a gentle northerly breeze.
Made it to the hut! The DOC maintains huts all over the country for hikers. Some are first-come, first-serve and at others you can reserve a bunk for a nominal fee. (I haven't hutted yet, maybe some day...)
Inside the hut.
I decided to press on in an attempt to reach the summit of the mountain/hill pictured earlier. The path went through some nice, shady areas of more undisturbed "bush", which I failed to photograph, and then emerged onto some higher pasture land. Looking back you can see the tiny hut in the distance!
It was about here that I ran out of water, and the path got tricky - obscured by tall grass, steep & rocky. I had to make a choice... do I keep going? I think I was close to the summit but I had no way to know for sure. Or do I turn around? I could already feel my legs going to jelly and I had a long walk back.
What would you do?
I turned around. Saved the summit for a future hike, hopefully with a hiking buddy. Perhaps this was the right decision, or perhaps this is a metaphor for larger things.
Oof, the way back was rough. Going downhill is worse, somehow, than going up. I learned a few valuable lessons:
The last picture I took, stumbling back to the carpark, arm be-nettled and aflame, was of this judgemental-ass cow.
