The Gorge

Mile 1348 / KM 2171
Hanmer Springs to Arthur's Pass

Podcast of the day: 'AUDE'

Song of the day: '16,16,Six' by The Drips

I miss: Fresh fruits

When I walked over the Morrison footbridge I was surrounded by runners with tiny colourful backpacks, fancy watches and visors. They were cheerfully talking to each other and I watched them eat bananas. I've never been so jealous... I wanted a banana so badly. All I had with me were some smushed granola bars, 2 sad wraps, a tiny bit of cheese, dried peas, some mashers and an almost empty jar of nutella. Hoping she’d give me a banana I asked a runner lady wearing bright pink lipstick what they were doing, and she told me that they were training for the Coast to Coast race which would take place in about a month’s time. I also had a chat with two TA hikers who had their thumbs out and were trying to hitch to Arthur's Pass. One of them pointed out the porta potti by the bridge, and said it was worth a visit which I thought was funny. The joys of everyday life become so basic on a thruhike… He wasn’t lying though, it truly was worth a visit. It was so clean and had lemon grass sanitizer which smelled fantastic.

Like I’ve said before, I hardly ever read the trail notes, so I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into that morning. Had I known, I would have turned around right there and hitched to town. I had no idea I'd be spending the rest of the day stumbling across a never ending gorge.

‚I could still go back‘, I thought after 4km. But then I’d have to walk back 4km which was even more demoralizing than the situation I already was, so I kept going. My progress was painfully slow and my left ankle was starting to hurt from all the twisting and turning. Think Madonna in ,Vogue’. Her wrists were my ankles. What person in their right mind would run this? I could hardly walk it! Arthur’s Pass almost broke me, and I fell hard on my knees multiple times. The rocks were super slippery and there were so many moments where I was just like, if my shoes won't stick I am going to fall right into the river. I teared up a couple of times that day, and was so proud and happy to finally arrive at the hut on ‚Goats Pass‘ after a six hour struggle. The view was amazing and made up for all the shit I had gone through all day. This whole five-day section wasn’t great, to be honest. Lots of forest and grassy fields, millions of sandlies and river crossings, wet feet all day long and no big views until after Arthur’s pass. There was the hot pool at the end of the second day, which was pretty cool. We brought some booze along and after about two hours in the pool we hiked on with wobbly legs and a great mood.

Finally! New shoes.

Drunk in a forest.

The bridges are getting smaller and smaller.

Kea and Beers.