First off thanks to Sheena for picking me up from Darfield to go back to Arthurs Pass with all our food and for taking our packs so we could walk the 3 hour connecting road section without them; it made all the difference and it was great to see ya. From Cora Lyn we had a nice walk up to the Lagoon Saddle then along the Harper River to Hamilton Hut and only a bit of drizzle - maybe the summer is coming?? The next day was walking along the Harper River again then down the back country road to Lake Coleridge village. 
We met the owner of Glenthorne/Ryton station (John) who asked about the trail hopefully he will eventually grant access through the stations as walking 32km along the road is a bit monotenous after a while. 
Getting across the Rakaia river had been one of our concerns 
(alongside the Rangitata) for a while, what with so much rain but it proved no problem (we just went round). Got a ride right around to the start of the road the other side of the river by a nice man and his daughter who'd been out biking and kayaking on the lake then got another ride by Mt Hutt Helicopters (the truck not the helicopter, unfortunately). It was waiting at the bottom of the road for the all go from DOC that the 2 toilets for the very huts we were planning to stay in were ready for airlifting in place - awesome; he took us right to the start of the track the other side of the river. Must have been good karma, we found an expensive leatherman on the road the day before and guessed it had been the musterers from Lake Colerige Station who we had passed; we gave it to another station worker to give back, he knew who it belonged to.
We met the owner of Glenthorne/Ryton station (John) who asked about the trail hopefully he will eventually grant access through the stations as walking 32km along the road is a bit monotenous after a while. 
Getting across the Rakaia river had been one of our concerns 
(alongside the Rangitata) for a while, what with so much rain but it proved no problem (we just went round). Got a ride right around to the start of the road the other side of the river by a nice man and his daughter who'd been out biking and kayaking on the lake then got another ride by Mt Hutt Helicopters (the truck not the helicopter, unfortunately). It was waiting at the bottom of the road for the all go from DOC that the 2 toilets for the very huts we were planning to stay in were ready for airlifting in place - awesome; he took us right to the start of the track the other side of the river. Must have been good karma, we found an expensive leatherman on the road the day before and guessed it had been the musterers from Lake Colerige Station who we had passed; we gave it to another station worker to give back, he knew who it belonged to.Stayed at A Frame hut near the Clent Hills saddle for the night with the new toilet (in place but unfortunately not installed); saw the DOC guys on the way down from the hut, they had installed the other toilet at Comyns Hut and were on there way to the A Frame and shooting a few rabbits en route to us. 
The huts along this section are old musterers huts and have a lot of history (and mice it seems, the little buggers). This is all new conservation area recently back in DOC hands after tenure review and is great - not sure how they ever grazed it, think the sheep must have eaten scree. We came out of this track at Lake Heron carpark and walked onto more recently new conservation land at Hakatere. We had planned on camping at Lake Clearwater then heading up to Mt Potts station to find out about crossing the Rangitata river; we had heard that possibly you could cross (48 braided channels) up further towards Mt Eriwhon but got chatting to a DOC guy whilst looking at the historic Hakatere station buildings and he said that the river flow was at 200 cumecs and they were only allowed to cross in their 4x4s at 100 cumecs (it wasnt even worth a go). Last week the river was flowing at 800 cumecs, thats how much rain there has been!!!
The huts along this section are old musterers huts and have a lot of history (and mice it seems, the little buggers). This is all new conservation area recently back in DOC hands after tenure review and is great - not sure how they ever grazed it, think the sheep must have eaten scree. We came out of this track at Lake Heron carpark and walked onto more recently new conservation land at Hakatere. We had planned on camping at Lake Clearwater then heading up to Mt Potts station to find out about crossing the Rangitata river; we had heard that possibly you could cross (48 braided channels) up further towards Mt Eriwhon but got chatting to a DOC guy whilst looking at the historic Hakatere station buildings and he said that the river flow was at 200 cumecs and they were only allowed to cross in their 4x4s at 100 cumecs (it wasnt even worth a go). Last week the river was flowing at 800 cumecs, thats how much rain there has been!!! Alan (DOC guy) gave us a ride around to the bottom of the road the other side of the river on his way home (awesome, thanks) then we only waited 15 minutes of so and got a ride up the road to a campsite at Peel Forest (just 14 km up the other side). We stayed there for the night in a little cabin and waited for the thunder and lightening to pass over, thankfully it did the next day and got a ride with Ian at the Peel Forest shop who also runs the campsite and the rural post service all the way up to Mesopotamia station (some 50km at the end of the Rakaia Gorge Road) and the start of the Te Araroa trail the other side of the Rangitata river. We stayed at the station for the night and congratulated ourselves on getting across the 2 biggest Canterbury rivers without getting wet feet! It anyone is interested Malcolm from Mesopotamia station will take you across the river in his helicopter for a rather hefty fee but you too could have dry feet!
The following day however was a different story, we were supposed to head up from Mesopotamia Station and along the Bush Stream but changed our minds 
after realising that Bush STREAM was in fact Bush Raging RIVER. We then walked back down to Mesopotamia station and up the Forest Creek instead - half a day wasted but at least safe. We are beginning to think we should have brought wet suit and life jacket instead on this walk the state of these rivers. We stayed the night at Felt Hut, another old musterers hut, with permission from Malcolm and Sue at Mesopotamia station which was nice as we had a long day the following day with a climb over the Bullock Bow saddle at 1640m then down and up again over the Stag Saddle, 1925m. We had lovely fine weather for the saddle which was awesome. Followed down the Camp stream from there down to our final hut before heading out to Lake Tekapo
after realising that Bush STREAM was in fact Bush Raging RIVER. We then walked back down to Mesopotamia station and up the Forest Creek instead - half a day wasted but at least safe. We are beginning to think we should have brought wet suit and life jacket instead on this walk the state of these rivers. We stayed the night at Felt Hut, another old musterers hut, with permission from Malcolm and Sue at Mesopotamia station which was nice as we had a long day the following day with a climb over the Bullock Bow saddle at 1640m then down and up again over the Stag Saddle, 1925m. We had lovely fine weather for the saddle which was awesome. Followed down the Camp stream from there down to our final hut before heading out to Lake Tekapo
Animals seen: Thar, rabbits galore, deer, himalyan mountain geese (obviously lost)
Thanks: a huge thanks to all those that gave us a ride around the Rakaia and Rangitata rivers and to DOC staff for all there invaluable information and help and to Mesopotamia station for all
their help in the area..
VIDEO - Please press play for viewing
The track was under water around the lake and we saw a 4x4 stuck up on the high banks around the lake (a DOC worker told us later that they had driven in, then the river had come up so now they were stuck).
Now, theres a high water route and a VERY high water route; we did it for an hour then managed to drop back down onto the river flats before we completely ran out of steam. Managed to get ourselves around the river to the footbridge instead, much easier option!!
That was a no go unless we wanted to become the next tramper drowning statistic so we aborted our attempt again, headed back over at the point where we had first crossed and decided that the road walk was the safest option. There has been exceptionally high rain in the last two weeks making everything very difficult to manage and rivers a nightmare! We had to get a ride for the last few kms into Arthurs Pass as the Otira Tunnel and viaduct could have resulted in a road incident instead of a river one. If its not one thing its another. Oh well we are now here in Arthurs Pass and planning the next haul down to Lake Tekapo and have now done 2000km - we're getting there!!!
A 3 hour walk around the Lake Head then up to the John Tait Hut. 
Johno decided that some off roading on the river flats was required rather than walking on the perfectly good track that was available; after some success and then subsequent bush bashing this quickly became a bad idea and we had to find the track again to meet the swingbridge to cross the Travers River (see they do build tracks for a reason!).
We went over (still raining but visibility ok'ish); it was like being in Fiordland, waterfalls everywhere, rivers cranking, path flooded. We got to Sabine Hut with no trouble though and were moving pretty quickly (never stayed in a hut so full), a party of 7 and another of 4 people had decided that the rain was too much and not moved all day so the hut was in full motion (luckily only a few snorers and not too bad, way too wet to camp when there was an alternative option though). 
Paul, Jim and Nick who had also been staying at Blue Lake Hut joined us for this section. We had to scramble way up high around the lake as there had been so much rain the track was half under water actually in the lake. 
By the time we got to the bottom of Waiau Pass to head over the bad weather was on its way in again, a steep climb up high to the pass, visibility not too bad but it had now started to snow. There were sections of snow still on the pass that we had to manoeuvre and scramble around as was too slippery and didnt fancy sliding back down 1900m. Johno had to help me in various places as was a bit scared climbing down when I couldn't quite reach my feet to a rock. 
We got about 3 hours down and got stuck by the river too, it had come up to high and was impassable again so we had to put up camp, amazing what a small uneven, rocky space you can fit 3 tents in when you need to. 
An easy walk over Anne Saddle (1136m) to Boyle Flats Hut with no rain but just as we were leaving the hut to continue on to Boyle Village and out it started again. 
An interesting section for us; we are now in Hanmer Springs getting more food and having a day off in the hot pools - NICE!. Our friends Josh and Jodi came up to see us with little Jarrah, we had a slumber party with all of us in one room, was very funny! - great to see you guys.
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