Kaikoura!

This is scotch broom mountain, on the way to Kaikoura.  Scotch broom has taken over the landscape in parts of New Zealand.  Terrible for allergies.

Ta-da!  

The water was a beautiful blue green color .

The coast just outside of Kaikoura.

The town of Kaikoura.  This was about it, a small beach community.

More Beach!  Too bad it is covered in rocks and not sand.  This is Kaikoura beach, the town is located right behind me.  We stopped by for a quick bite and to get some maps and then off to hike up those hills in the distance.

Start of the hike.  The trail was more of a gravel road but still quite steep. 

My typical face...  The fog was rolling in and we couldn't see anything but the trail but it made for a great surprise when it did clear up at the top.

Surprise!  Once it cleared up at the camp it was amazing as usual.  The top layer of clouds ended up burning off but the lower clouds stuck around so it felt like we were floating in the clouds.

The essentials! Thanks Tara for the stove and pots!

More of the amazing view.  This is looking down the river valley towards the west.

The camp.  Took us two hours to climb to this point where we were staying the night then another 400 - 500m climb to the summit.  You can see the sea of clouds just beyond the camp.  It was all clouds for a 360 degree view.

The sunset was amazing.  We had just finished cooking and  were on our way  to relax and watch .

More of the sunset and the sea of clouds.

The tent and the view.  I was the only one brave enough to stick it out outside in the cold.  The other three stayed in the hut with the wood stove.  There were two other groups staying up there as well, a couple from czechoslovakia, a couple guys from the UK , another from South Africa and a girl from Canada.

The last of the sunset. and then off to sleep and try not to freeze.

Woke up at 530am to watch the sunrise and we were glad we did.  The lower level of clouds had cleared in the night  which made for a beautiful view of the Kaikoura peninsula, the water and the sunrise.

More of the amazing pink and purple sky.  Then back to sleep before hiking the summit.

On the way up to the summit.

Kaikoura peninsula and the surrounding farmland.

Almost there!  1500m

Still a little bit of snow left over from the winter season.

Made it, 1600m (about 5200ft)!

Me at the top.  It was super windy up there but as you can see the view was pretty good.

Fooling around with the camera functions.

Living the life!  Had to lay down behind a berm to get out of the wind.

The view looking the opposite way.  A little bit of everything, snow capped mountains and blue -green oceans.

The crew and the hut back at camp.

The last view of the valley before getting back to the car.

A good way to end a great weekend is with a tall glass of Sheep Shagger's Lager!

Arthur's Pass Day 2 - Scott's Track to Avalanche Peak

Free Camping in the woods!  Met a few people from the States,  Holland, NZ and France.

Early start the next morning to get up the track before the weather gets bad.

A good bacon, beans, granola, peanut butter and coffee breakfast.

Warning signs for avalanches, thus the name Avalanche Peak but don't worry the trail had been cleared for use by the Department of Conservation.  Scott's Track is estimated at 4 hours one way, climbing 1100 meters ( about 3300 ft).  

First view of the valley below.  You can see the few buildings which makes up Arthur's Pass Village.

A little higher looking the other way down the valley towards the west coast,  keeping the clouds at bay.  Misty Mountains!

Made it above the tree line and hiking along the  first ridge.

The second ridge... if you look close and follow the top of the ridge you can see two  people , this will give you a sense of scale.  The clouds where moving quick and pockets of sun were beginning to show.

Looking back at the others as we climb our way to the top.

Again looking at the path we had taken.  There were pockets of snow  still left over , perfect for making snowballs.  

The trail is marked when you get above the tree line by the posts with orange tips.

Made it to the top 1833meters (6000 ft) above sea level!  The clouds were still moving through quickly but overall a beautiful day  and luckily it was not windy at all at the top.

The Keas were there in full force.  At least 3 in this picture and probably  7 in total at the peak.  It was a little nerve racking having these big parrots flying around you while you are straddling the ridge.

This is looking east over the Southern Alps back toward the Waimakariri River  Valley.

Lucas and Elena at the top.  Looking through the clouds northwest towards Mount Temple. 

Mustafa and me in the background with the Kea close by.   He was curious as to why i was in his spot to sit or maybe he just wanted food.

On the way down, clouds were rolling through and  the view disappeared. 

The rocks in the clouds, hard to image the view of  the beautiful mountain range  there a second ago.

The clouds cleared and the sun came out for the trek down.  This is looking at the  east to  the Waimakariri River.

Looking back up the trail where we had just come from.

Mt. Temple in the background.

All of us with Mt. Rolleston in the back.

Mt. Rolleston

Aerial view (from across the valley) of the Devil's Punchbowl Falls from the previous day.

The meadow, the valley and the sun....simply amazing!

Lucas and the creepy moss covered bush trees on the trail .

The final view of the waterfall just before we made it back down to the road.     An amazing  little trip.  These pictures don't really do it justice but enjoy.