Day 34: Takaka to Heaphy Track, Brown Hut to Saxon Hut

One small bit before I start:

My opener post for the Heaphy Track made it sound like an ordeal which we barely survived.  While at points it was cold, wet and windy, it was still astounding gorgeous, and unlike anything we have hiked through before.  Would we do it again?  Absolutely.  It's not actually that hard.  We might just stay at a few more huts next time, do it in 4 days,  and pack a few more snacks.

In other words, if you come to NZ, you should hike the Heaphy.

If you have questions about the pictures (and some of the sceneries are pretty cool), please comment and I'll explain things.  One of the coolest things about the Heaphy was how different the terrain was, even only a few miles from one spot to the other.  I'll keep commentary to a minimum, or this will take forever to post and read.

 The distance list:

 

  

 Views from the high point:

 The moment we crossed Perry Saddle and started hiking into the Gouland Downs, the terrain changed very dramatically.

 

 Every bridge had a load sign.  Measured in persons.

 The downs, with mountains in the background.  They look as barren as the high plains of America, except they are dripping wet.  Something about the soil keeps most things from growing.

 Don't ask me about the significance of the boot pole, because I really don't know.

 Yes, for a moment I thought this said Shiner Bock as well.

 Cable Bridge!

 

  

 And now, my turn to cross.

 It looks death-defying, but it's only about 8 feet off the ground.

  

 And now some extreme low angle shots.  Since I know all of you want them.

 There is a massive campaign in New Zealand right now to contain various introduced species of mammals, mainly using traps and a poison known as 1080 or fluoroacetate. It's a pretty potent poison effective on most mammals, essentially depriving them of the ability to process carbohydrates.  We saw, and probably will see, lots of traps and signs warning about the use of 1080, and have seen an equal number of signs in towns saying, "NO 1080".  It's a contentious issue right now.

That being said, we were in no danger, but the badly sprayed sign was pretty cool.

 

 The view from our first campsite.

 Our first campsite.