Routeburn Day 3

Routeburn, Day 3/ Actually Caples Track

4-3-2014

Mid Caples Hut

     The Caples Trail is less of a walking trail and more of an actual backcountry trail. It goes up and over a saddle, just below the snow line, and then follows the Caples River down a long valley to the car park (that's the Kiwi term for parking lot).

     It's very pretty. Parts of the trail are in the woods along the valley meadow and the river, parts are through the meadow. Snow dusted mountain peaks are visible on all sides. 

     This morning it was still misting and chilly, but it cleared up and turned into a beautiful, warm sunny day. Whereas yesterday we dawdled in snow, today we dawdled in warm grass.

     We still made it to our hut by 3:00 in the afternoon. We picked our spots in the bunk room (right by a big window with an even bigger view) and chatted with the three older ladies we met and friended last night. They arrived just after we did. 

      After that, we walked  around and explored a bit. We found the coolest slot canyon right by the hut. The river is wide open and flat until it corners around the hill the hut is on, and upon investigation, there turned out to be some really neat waterfalls and a really sweet canyon that the river runs through. It gets really deep in a couple spots, and looks like an awesome spot to cliff jump. It also looks like it'd be the coolest spot to kayak if there wasn't a log jam right in the narrowest part. Instead, I had to be content with just walking around looking at it from all different angles. Still, it was a fantastic evening adventure.

     Now it has just gotten dark. One planet is shining bright, preceding the rest of the stars. We had all been chatting away with everyone in the common room about bears, elk, deer, the US and New Zealand, but now we're ready for bed. We all are.

     Tomorrow we hike out. It's only about 5 kilometers away, I think we'll do it in an hour and a half. Then I plan on hunting down laundry and a hot shower.