Random Antipodean Photo Day

Introducing a new feature here on Diana’s Diversions. Random Antipodean Photo Day. I’m subjecting you all to a few of the pictures I took while abroad. You know. Occasionally.

So here I am at the peak of the Kepler Track, which is one of the “Great Walks” of New Zealand, and one of the three Fiordland walks (the other two were Milford and Routeburn tracks). This was towards the end of our trip, when we’d gotten a bit Kiwi in our tramping abilities. We went fast. So fast in fact, that when we couldn’t get either cabin space or tent space on the trail (as is very common during the summer high season), we checked out the trail profile map, determined that the coolest part of the track was the climb up to Luxmore Hut, and decided to do it in one day.

Without our packs, we were able to go pretty fast, though probably not as fast as the runners who do the “Kepler Challenge” every year. We started out early in the morning, powered up to the peak of Luxmore (with a small side trip to the caves), hung out for a bit, enjoying the gorgeous day and even more gorgeous scenery, then started back down again. By the time we got to the steep descent, the sun was going down (New Zealand, due to its high latitude, has very long days in summertime), and we were pushing our luck. So we ran down the mountain.

I kid you not.

That was an awesome day. A 24 mile long, awesome day.