Legs and Borders

"Life is something to do while we can't get to sleep" Fran Lebowitz Only a short hike today, could call it a near zero day as I finished at 9am. Reason being the weather. Next section is a climb to the Red Crater which measures 1847 metres (6059 feet), it's the tallest peak we go through in North Island with stunning views if the weather allows to see them but the forecast for today was snow, rain and heavy wind. I've hiked in this sort of conditions before and it's some of the worst memories I have while outdoors. With this in mind I've opted to stay in a reasonably priced (30$) warm cabin at the Tongariro Holiday Park few miles before the climb begins. I've called Mandy to double check the booking I've made in four days time for a boat pick up along the Wanganui river and she confirmed that it is all good, Bridge to Nowhere Lodge doesn't run a boat there everyday but on Sunday they will have a pick up available. I need to keep a reasonable pa...

I count today as the second worst (after descending from Sonora Pass) day on the PCT. I knew it will rain but forecast said that it will be just a light shower and perhaps it even was, somewhere down below, but at 10000 feet elevation it was a hell on wheels. I started walking at 5:10am and as I was getting closer to the Tinkers Knob peak it started to rain, nothing heavy to start with just a light shower as anticipated, after half an hour clouds moved on top of the mountain obscuring the view and the heavy rain and wind commenced. On couple occasions wind pushed me away from the trail, snow got even more slippery and I fell and slid twice and had to plunge my fingers into the snow in order to stop sliding off the mountain, but the 'funniest' thing happened when I jumped off the snow on to a table sized flat rock in order to drop down to the trail and it started to slide down with me on top for couple of metres until it finally plunged itself into the trail. I was wet to the bo...