Picture it.
It's pitch black dark.
I'm four months pregnant and haven't gotten more than 6 hours sleep in 24 hours (which isn't good for my emotions. lol)
I have a head lamp on my head.
I am wearing amazing wool socks with my Timberland boots which I have had since ninth grade. These boots had not been around anything more rugged than boot cut jeans since my parents bought them.
I have a mountain climber's pack on my back full of sleeping bags and baked beans and I am ready to go.
Jared and I begin our trek into the Rimataka Mountains to Jared's family hut in the Orongorongo River Valley.
Many thoughts were going through my head. We had to park outside the park gates because they closed at 6 pm. As we walked the extra 2 km from the gate to the beginning of the trail, I thought...this kind of seems like the beginning of a news story that begins "An abandoned car was found outside the park gates and the passengers are believed to be lost in the mountains."
I laughed to myself...but then I...didn't.
This trip was one that Jared had been patiently waiting to take. We had wanted to go for a while but didn't have access to the keys or a free weekend to spend in the mountains. We knew that if we waited any longer, I would be too pregnant. I wouldn't be able to go for a while after the baby was born (at least until they are 5) and wanted to see what it was like before I took a child out there.
I say that to say that the following account was totally my choice. I am not crazy for going while pregnant...and there was no harm to my baby. I even checked it out with my medical people before going.
We walked in and saw many possums staring at us through the trees. Usually, I would never go into the woods at night but in New Zealand, there is nothing that will get you. I was so tired that I frequently asked to stop and rest. I didn't know how far we were from the hut or how long it was going to take to get there and the lack of rest mentioned before was starting to get to me about 45 minutes in. Being in the dark was a little disorienting and I wasn't expecting that. My favorite part of being in nature is being able to see nature. haha. It was interesting.
Towards the end of the trail, (after an emotional breakdown comparing the trail to labor and thinking I wasn't going to make it), we descended Jacob's Ladder. It is a zig zag descent to the river which must be crossed to get to the hut.
At this point, its gotten quite cold but after crossing the river, my fabulous wool socks warm up quickly even though they were wet. We were walking through the river valley so we had to cross several times where the shoal ended and went into the bank.
We headed for a slight V shape in the shadow of the river valley where we would head up to the hut.
At this point, we had been walking for three hours...we had crossed the river 5 times and we reach a bank where Jared says 'Ok...the hut is right up here.' I look up and see a bank that has to be climbed from the river to get to the hut.
Furious was not the appropriate word.
I got it together (not without complaining unfortunately) and hauled my pregnant self up the bank. Jared and I had switched flashlights so he could find the hut and on the way up the bank, I dropped mine. Jared ran down to get it and after convincing me not to spend the night right where I was, we got up to the hut.
We opened the shelters on the windows, Jared started a fire in the stove and I crawled into my sleeping bag and went to sleep instantly.
I don't remember anything until 8 a.m. the next morning when the sun was shining in the window and Jared had fixed me breakfast. He hands me a plate of baked beans and a toasted crumpet. It was the best thing I had ever eaten.
This is what I saw when I woke up :)
It was gorgeous (even though the window was cloudy) and it made my day. After getting sleep, I really enjoyed myself!
Leaving the hut. I had a million layers on and I am pregnant so I make no more excuses for looking pudgy. haha.
We made it! Trauma really does bring you together! Ha. I want you to know two things...Jared Kyle is amazingly patient and I need sleep to be a nice person these days.
Views down the river valley from the hut. This is before going down the goat track (cut by goats) to get off the cliff. This is the river valley we had walked down coming in the night before.
If you look up in the trees you can see a solar panel. That is where the hut is. Through the trees is where we climbed to get there.
Crossing the river last the night before means crossing the river first the next day and continuing the trail with wet feet. Again, thank the Lord for my wool socks! Descending Jacob's ladder last means ascending it first. One of the funniest things was when we crossed the bridge before Jacob's ladder and we saw a plaque we missed the night before. It said 'This plaque is dedicated to all of those who have died in the Orongorongo River Valley'. NOW you tell me. hahahaha.
Beauty on the trail back.
Jared went ahead to get the car at the gate and pick me up at the beginning of the trail. Almost off the trail, these bulky guys with shirts that said 'Wellington Search and Rescue' come bounding in and I laughed to myself and thought 'Here I am boys. You're late! Where were you last night?!?!'
Finished the trail!
There is nothing particularly amusing about this post but it is honest. I was a pain. Jared had every reason to tell me I was never allowed to come back...and he didn't. I agreed that the hut was lovely and I would come back with our kids. I am actually really looking forward to it after the whole thing was said and done. BUT I vowed to never again go while pregnant and never walk in again at night.
The trip definitely brought Jared and I closer. I know I can trust him to make sure I am okay. Even when I make dumb choices or complain like a teenager.
The title of this post is how you pronounce then name of the river valley but it also represents my preconceived notions of how tough I thought I was and how much I thought my boundaries could be pushed these days. :)
We finished the trip with the traditional fish and chips and added a new tradition...
a wendy's frosty. :)
