Over the river and through the wood…
On the way back, I saw lots of rocks floating down the river. Rocks?? So I picked one up to take home. Pure, crystal clear glacial ice, probably hundreds of years old. Tasted great!
Category: Pacific
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Roberts Point track, Franz Josef Glacier, South Island, New Zealand
This is a challenging trail, the sign says. People have died hiking it. They do not lie. It is strenuous in parts, and dangerously slippery off and on. New Zealand must have a suspension footbridge engineering division! Viewing platform at end of trail. Franz Josef glacier. It is receding, like most glaciers today. -
Mt. Aspiring Hut and Rob Roy Glacier, South Island, New Zealand
December 2015
First, you make an hour long drive up a gravel road from Wanaka, fording numerous streams (if the water flow allows).
To the Raspberry Creek Parking Lot (trailhead). Mt. Aspiring off in the distance.
On our way to the Aspiring Hut.
Up the valley next to the glacial melt stream–bridge to Rob Roy Glacier ahead.
A side hike. I’ll do this on the way back.
The trail passes through a sheep ranch along the way. Free range sheep?
Several icy streams to cross.
Beautiful grassy mountain valley, getting closer now. 
Almost there!
Aspiring Hut coming up.
Made of local fieldstone.
This area is a World Heritage Area.
I saw more waterfalls in a few weeks in Fiordland than I have in the whole rest of my life.
Back down to the Roy Roy Glacier bridge. Time for a little side hike.
Just tiptoe under that big overhanging rock. 
And you arrive at the hanging edge of the Rob Roy Glacier. It’s big!
Which made for my biggest hiking day in NZ: more than 16 miles and 2500 feet climb.
Time for a nice hot bath!
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Routeburn track, South Island, New Zealand
Routeburn track is east of Milford Sound.
I never tired of watching the myriad waterfalls.
Made it to Lake MacKenzie!
Lake MacKenzie is lovely, looks almost like a Japanese stone and water garden.
Beautiful, yet cool enough you want a layer.
Climbing out along one side of the valley.
Climbing up toward Harris Saddle.
And down the other side. Dramatic mountain landscapes.
Glad I have hefty ankle high mountain boots!
As we drop down to the Routeburn Falls Lodge.
And into the valley below…
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Milford Sound track, South Island, New Zealand
I began my solo travels in November 2016. It did not seem beneficial to anyone for me to sit at home in Hawai’i alone, yet it did not seem a great weather time to travel elsewhere–until I remembered that November is the end of spring/beginning of summer in…New Zealand!
So I booked a flight to Auckland. We had hosted Katherine McKenzie from Auckland in 1982 for a year (when she was in high school). I didn’t know her married name, and thought it unlikely I could find her. At the last minute, I googled her name, and found she was practicing medicine in Auckland under her maiden name!
Connections were made, and we wound up getting together and had lots of fun getting reacquainted. While at Katherine and Jeremy’s home, I made this short video:
[vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/173399434″]
After my week in Auckland, I strapped on my trekking pack, and flew down to Queenstown, South Island.
The trekking adventure begins on South Island, New Zealand in November of 2015.
Along Milford Sound track.
Queenstown, the entry portal to Fiordland. 
Boat to start of Milford Sound track (trail). The southwest part of the South Island is called ‘Fiordland’. 
First lodge on the Milford Sound track: Glade House.
On the trail heading up the valley. 
Pompolona Lodge ahead. MacKinnon Pass tomorrow.
Mackinnon Pass looms ahead. 
Fortunately, no avalanches this time of year–just rockfall. 
Lots of waterfalls.
A lot of mossy trail to climb.
After a long climb, we top Mackinnon Pass. 
Descending from MacKinnon Pass.
Milford Sound track gets a lot of rain. 
After 35 miles (including side hikes) we get to Sandfly Point! 
Where we take a boat down the lake a bit. 
You can tell it was wet. Face nets to keep the Sandflies from biting. 
Hot bathes that night. Next morning, a sunny cruise on Milford Sound (a fiord). A fine ending to the most storied ‘tramp’ in New Zealand…