25th December
0km
Nicols Hut
Rain hit the window of the hut right next to where I lay. The wind seemed to be on some sort of irregular timer, like a set of traffic lights turning green then red. We would be going nowhere today. Merry Christmas, I said to my companions.
The power of three coffees flowed through my veins before I ate the largest breakfast I’d seen in many days. It was Christmas and I intended to feast. Prior to heading into these mountains I’d prepared myself for the possibility of being stuck and bought extra food, so had almost everyone else. New Zealand mountain weather is a great teacher of patience for those willing to learn.
The fire was started early and we were all warm and dry. A most unusual way to spend Christmas and as a result not one we would quickly forget. To make the hut more Christmasy, we constructed a Christmas tree from firewood, some headlamps for lights and smelly socks. I didn’t look pretty but it’s the best we could do. Humour and moral was high.
Christmas lunch was freeze dried Lasagna followed by a dessert of apricot crumble. Thank you to Ross for the kind Christmas present, the meal warmed me even more.
There was no cell phone service in the hut but a 10 minute walk up the mountain in the rain and wind was enough to check the latest weather and answer the Christmas messages. But the hut was warm and dry when I returned. After time in the fresh air the hut smelled of unwashed humans and stale socks and underwear. When we do make it out of here the nearest shower and laundry will be a welcome sight. But will we be forced to stay longer or will the weather allow us to leave.
Next – Day 64 – Hardest Section of the Whole Trail
All the tips you need to hike the Te Araroa Trail :
Complete Guide to the Te Araroa Trail
Te Araroa Trail Resupply Guide
Te Araroa Trail Gear List
Te Araroa Trail Gear Review
Best dressed person on Xmas day for sure! Lol. Merry Xmas mate! I was down south exploring Dunsborough and Margaret river. A nice time.
That’s me, I’m such a fashionista, not. Hope it was a great Christmas
Best christmas tree ever! :D Whoever carried that mustard sauce on the shelf there must have been keen. Glad you had a safe and dry christmas!
There were mustard sauce bottles minus the sauce and other bits of discarded trash. We couldn’t carry it all out. It was a memorable Christmas
Merry Christmas Brad! LOVE the xmas tree haha
And Merry Christmas to you too and your family. Great Christmas tree
Merry Christmas, Brad. Hope you’re out of those mountains by now.