Monday, February 25 - Climbing Mount Owen

     On February 1st we tried to climb Mount Owen from the south, which involved many wet-footed river crossings, a steep steep forest climb, lots of sweating, and finally, running out of time, and energy.  But I wrote all about that before.
     So now on our return back north we decided to try it again, this time giving ourselves three days with plans to stay at the hut up above tree line.  No river crossings this time, but still lots of steep steep forest climbing, and sweating.  But at least we made it to the hut.  Didn't leave the van until 2:30 pm so it was nearly 8 when we arrived, the sun behind the high ridge to the west, but still light enough to see our way around the hut.

There were hundreds of bumble bees swarming around the parking lot
at the beginning of the trail.   We were glad to get our backpacks loaded
and start on the trail.

Mount Owen is made of marble, which erodes into fantastic karst formations.
We wanted to go up the mountain to see them, and to also to view an area used
during filming of LOTR.

New Zealand has nearly 1000 huts on the very extensive back country trail
system.  They offer mattresses on communal bunk beds, toilets, untreated
water, and a table and benches inside the main shelter.  

    We were very glad to arrive at this hut after climbing nearly 3000 feet of elevation through some steep forest terrain.  The only other occupant was a Canadian-Kiwi woman named Diana nearly our age who was on a solo trip to Mount Owen for a few days.  We ate macaroni salad that Diana had made the day before, scarfing it down like a small pack of wolves.  Then, Kristy went out to her tent to sleep (saving herself the $5 for sleeping in the hut) and we crawled into our sleeping bags.  It was a very quiet, restful night.