15th March 2011
Routeburn Trek, Day 2
We were greeted this morning by a glorious sunrise and a faultless blue sky. There was still a bracing freshness in the air as we set out, but our dry clothes and almost-dry boots made us cheerful and the weather could only improve our mood as we emerged above the treeline into the sun. The plant communities of these alpine slopes are amazing, from enormous flower spikes and the scraggly ribbonwood trees as blossom-covered as a Japanese cherry all the way down to tiny gardens of a half-dozen different plants no bigger than a fingernail all growing on a patch of rock.
The views today were breathtaking, a superlative I use very judiciously, staring at it for a long time on the page before allowing it to pass muster. Before lunch we were walking along the high slopes of the enormous Hollyroad Valley which drives arrow-straight like a knife stroke all the way to the Tasman Sea, a barely visible strip of white surf and blue water in the far distance. After crossing the Harris Saddle we first saw the jet black waters of the high lake that feeds the Route Burn itself, and then before and below us stretched the epic Route Burn valley between towering peaks on either side.
We had not deviated from our route, for we found the second local dwelling just as we expected. Every bit as welcome as the last, although they chose to feed us with medium-rare steak complimented by a very passable bottle of merlot. For dessert they follow a strange tradition whereby our guides were made to throw pancakes over their shoulders which we in turn had to catch upon our plates. There were several spills among the group, but I can report that we in particular acquitted ourselves well.
Related Images:
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Doesn’t that picture of all those tiny plants on the rock remind you of the coral gardens you’ve seen snorkeling?
I hadn’t made the visual connection because the places where the two photos were taken are so different. But with that context taken away, there’s definitely a resemblance in form and colour. Yet the coral are animals of course. Nature is so captivating! Good to hear from you!