Te Araroa (day 42) - Rocks Hut to Slaty Hut [Richmond Ranges] / mile 1170

Weather was still bad in the morning after the rainy night. I've decided to make a move around 8:30, it was foggy but the rain and wind stopped almost completely.

Trail was overgrown and full of water all the way to the Browning Hut, the views were getting better and the weather cleared completely with sun showing up every now and then. From here it was the stream crossing gamble. Normally the eight crossings ahead would be an easy task but today after 40mm of rain, they all turned into a roaring monsterosities. Few hikers decided to wait for a day and let them drop down at the Hacket Hut just before this section.
I've decided to push on after meeting a Nobo hiker who told me that the water was around waist level at most. The streams were daunting nonetheless, trail was jumping across the same stream several times with only short intersections between. I took it slowly and eventually managed to go through all of the crossings. I changed socks to dry ones at this point and cleaned all the pebbles that got stuck in my shoes.

Next challenge was the climb, almost a 1000 metres up to the next hut. It wasn't particularly steep but long and "Kiwi style", straight up the hill, no switchbacks! I didn't mind it at all and my legs after the crossings were up for the task. I got upto Starveall Hut at 5pm, the view has opened up revealing an amazing mountain range. We were above the tree line at this point.
I decided to hike another few miles to Slaty Hut and it was the best scenery I have seen in New Zealand so far (I'm sorry Tararua's and Tongariro, you're still beautiful). The mountain chains were going into the horizon from one side and you could see the Tasman Bay and Nelson on the other. I arrived in the hut at 7pm, there was an English couple staying here tonight as well.

It was New Year's Eve, we tried to light a fire to make it a little bit more special and we almost succeeded, wood wasn't particularly dry and the fire faded after half an hour but it was still worth the effort.
Tomorrow should be a scenic extravaganza, and the weather is suppose to stay decent for the next three days. 

It's 31st of December 2023, I've been on the trail for 42 days and have 42 days to go.

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