The work week was over and the weekend finally here. Lauren was more than excited for what the next two days would bring. She felt like a kid in a candy store living in New Zealand not knowing where to go first or next. Should she go up a mountain, wander around a lake or sit by the ocean. It seemed the choice for raw beauty was never-ending and overwhelming in the most perfect way. It fueled her heart and gave her a zest for life.
It was Saturday morning and the alarm went off at 7 am. She popped out of bed without hesitation leaving her boyfriend Chris to a few more minutes of shut-eye. She went into the kitchen, turned the kettle on and started organizing her bag for the weekend road trip.
Lonely planet books, New Zealand maps and tour guides littered the kitchen table reminding her of all the places she wants to go and plans to see. That weekend the choice had finally been to explore the magical lands of Mt Cook National Park.
She had heard all about the area before. Surrounded by stunning landscape and home to the tallest mountain in New Zealand. It was where Sir Edmund Hillary trained before he moved on to conquer Everest. Some of the lakes have giant icebergs and are surrounded by glaciers. She had seen photo after photo from all areas in the park but was ready, even for a day, to experience some of it’s magic for herself.
Only two and a half hours from their home in Methven the couple set off. Chris in the driver’s seat still half asleep and Lauren on the edge of hers bright-eyed and cheery. They had driven the road to go down south many times, and although Lauren knew what to expect every little bit closer, she got more and more excited. They had driven into the Mt Cook village before, stopped for a quick look, contemplated a meal at one of the restaurants but hadn’t stepped foot on the trails.
Lauren had checked the weather all week in hopes of having a clear day or at the very least no rain. The drive started out sunny but turned to low cloud and even a few raindrops about an hour and a half away from the park. She did a little rain dance in her seat and prayed that the weather would turn for the better. Luckily it had. Just as they turned down the road to the village, the clouds cleared. The 45-minute drive along Lake Pukaki was killing her with anticipation. Even the smooth lake glistening with a brilliant blue colour stretching 15 km wasn’t enough to soothe her. It wasn’t long though and they finally found themselves in the car park stretching their legs for the first of New Zealand’s most popular walks.
The Hooker Valley Track
They had picked the perfect time of the year to go. September. There weren’t too many people or at least nothing like peak season and the weather gods were on their side. After a cold few weeks at home in Methven the day was completely opposite. Sunny, hot and barely a cloud in the sky. The path was pretty much flat the whole way lined with tussocks and native bush. Rugged snow-capped mountains surrounded them, the sun glistening off the snow. They crossed suspension bridges and listened to the sound of the crystal water rushing past. Lauren stopped for her photo on the boardwalk of course and just over an hour later Hooker Lake with Mt Cook keeping watch, towering in the background appeared.
She wasn’t prepared for what her eyes were seeing and Chris quickly appreciated the beauty of his own country. She found her imagination running wild looking up at the beautiful giant in front of her. She had read prior that about 150-200 people climb the mountain each year. There are multiple routes but all come with high risk. Many go up but many don’t come down. She couldn’t help but think was it like up there. How, just how could someone climb all that way overcoming challenge after challenge just trying to get to the next point. Rock slips, avalanches, hypothermia. The conditions could be treacherous. The mountain is said to be more technically difficult than Everest and it left her dumbfounded and fascinated thinking about the stories of those who have made the journey and the stories they would never hear.
She took to her camera quickly snapping shots, anxious that this picture perfect scene might vanish before her. She finally sat down to really truly register the pure raw beauty right before her.
The water was a milky turquoise colour, little wind caused a slight reflection on the water. Icebergs glided silently in the water to remind what used to occupy the space they were floating in. Every ounce of anticipation was worth it. Lauren didn’t care how popular the track was or if everyone has seen the same shot over and over. It was her experience of the sights and sounds. Her experience exploring with her loved one and her experience of simply seeing it all for herself, not through someone’s social profile.
Noontime came around and the crowds were beginning to grow, the clue to think about heading back. They stayed a little bit longer. soaking up as much beauty as they could. It was hard for Lauren to leave but the thought of the next track being just as beautiful was enough to hurry to the truck to set off for the next walk on their list. It was only 1:00 since leaving the car park and in 3 hours she felt like her head had exploded in wonder. She had never seen anything like it and wasn’t even quite sure how to process it all.
They drove for 15 minutes to the next destination. Thinking they would pull into the car park and just walk up the track. Chris veered to the left and stopped. The sign read 4WD track, avalanche risk, proceed with caution.
Part 2- Tasman Lake – here
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