Introduction to today's journey
Today's journey continues following the Panekire Range before descending along a forested spur eventually reaching the lake at Waiopaoa. Here I spend the afternoon exploring the pristine beach beside the lake.
Today's Journey
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Cold rain falls as I look out of Panekiri Hut in the early morning. The trig beside the forest is the summit of Puketapu Peak, one of the highest summits of the range. |
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Resting in the hut waiting for the cold rain to clear. It is very cold but not snowing. No doubt snow will be falling on the much higher volcanoes in the middle of the island. |
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The rain does not clear, so we pack up and continue following the range. The thick cloud denies us any views down the mountain and the cold wind motivates us to keep going. |
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The track eventually leaves the top of the range and quickly descends along a wooden staircase. The steep hill now shelters us from the cold wind. |
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Following a long spur gently down the mountain towards the lake as rain continues falling. There is no wind at all here, so it is not so cold. |
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The track heading down the mountain is of an excellent grade making for easy walking despite the rain. |
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The rain stops falling by the time we reach the lake, at a remote corner of the Wairaumoana Arm and check into the Waiopaoa Hut for the night. |
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Gentle ripples cover the otherwise mirror flat lake under the mountains rising into the thick cloud racing overhead. Tomorrow we will be hiking through the hills to the left as we continue heading around the lake. |
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Looking over the lake in the late afternoon before cold rain sets in. |
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We relax in the hut in the evening under soft candlelight. |
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