Copland for a Fopland

So contrary to my parent's warning, which was somewhat along the lines of "Daddy and I don't think you should go hiking while you're in New Zealand.... not to say you're too retarded to do it, but we think you'll definitely hurt yourself," I attempted the Copland track this weekend.

Their worries weren't far off, though I think the problem was more in the fact that there was no prior discussion of tramp-ability before leaving. I'll explain.

So, Friday night we left Dunedz and headed towards Mt. Cook... and then towards Lake Tekapo... and then finally decided that we were actually going to go further west to the Copland track to go to hotsprings. Past Lake Hawea we were stopped in our tracks by a rock-avalanche that led to road closures. We set up camp at a great spot [it said no camping, but it was perfect] and tucked away for the night. Early in the morning we made it past the rocky road fall and were off on our own little manifest destiny.

The second we entered the track what I alluded to before became apparent. Though I was making time [in the sense that it took me 4 hours to travel the distance that the sign said would take 4 hours to get to], the people I went with were racing to the end... a concept I just couldn't manage during my first tramp since my pre-teen years. My overly cautious nature pushed me back, and reluctantly Kevin stayed with me for the rest of the tramp. We got the majority of the way to the hotsprings, but it was rapidly getting dark, and the sky started to spit down on us. Though I'm upset I didn't make it to the hotsprings, we probably made the right choice by turning back for another hour and a half to go to an earlier hut.

So, they have these huts set up [that you're supposed to pay for] where you can just rest your head for the night. There are usually cots and basic amenities. It's pretty sweet.

Also in our trek we encountered crazy massive bridges that only one person could use at a time. I found them pretty terrifying, but exhilarating enough to enjoy the experience.

Night turned into morning and we started to head back, with the reaslisation that the hotsprings crew would have had no idea what happened to us. We went early, as to not miss them, but then were left sitting by the carpark for 5 hours. I thought deeply, drew crazily, and was demolished by sandflies [Sandfly: n. evil fucking creature that takes the place of mosquitos during the day. They will come in swarms, and surround you as if you're a piece of rotting meat or a disregarded lolly. With no intent but mal-intent they will bite you leaving the most uncomfortably itchy redspots, preventing sleep for at least the next week. One has told me toothpaste cures the itchies].

On our way home we stopped in Wanaka for fish and chips, wrapping up an interesting weekend to say the least. Not sure I'm going to tramp ever again.

oh. I also had my first ever peanut butter and jelly sandwich on this trip. Not bad. would eat again.