By Ruth

Distance: 10 km

After the busyness of the hut last night, we decided to get going early this morning and try beat the rush out of the hut. So it was back to TA hours of getting up at 5:45 and trying to get out by 7. It was a cold but much clearer morning than the previous days, and we had a great view of the early morning sun hitting the snowy peaks.

The walk out was short and enjoyable and my shoes just about managed to hold together for the duration.

We saw lots of people hiking in from the parking lot, so we were not too upset to be getting out. It looks like a busy weekend on the track, probably because tomorrow is Waitangi Day so people are taking a long weekend.

Once we got to the highway around 11, we had a snack and began the hitch into Christchurch. It took a while to get a ride from the Lewis Pass parking lot. The sun was out but it was cold and windy so we had to dance around a bit to stay warm. At least the view was great!

In the end it took us three hitches and a free bus ride to get into Christchurch. First was a dad bringing some sports equipment to his son in Hanmer Springs who picked us up from the trailhead. We stopped for a side-of-the-highway picnic lunch at the Hanmer-Christchurch junction, and then an Australian surf bum in his van took us as far as the junction with the road to Kaikoura. Next up a nice couple from the UK gave us a lift in their spacious rented campervan to a holiday park in Christchurch. And finally, we didn’t have change for the bus into the centre of town, so the driver let us ride for free. It was a journey but we made it!

The first night back in town is always strange. You woke up in a hut in the mountains, and you’re going to sleep in a hotel room, surrounded by the all the food, delicious coffee, and conveniences of a modern city.