Tuatapere Humpridge Track

55 Kilometers, 9 people, 4 seasons, 3 days, 1 memory.  That's the short version, now here's the longer...

There's no better way to adventure than to drop everything, grab your pack and go.  We did just that at the Humpridge track this weekend and it was taxing, yet inspiring.  From the warm rainforests to the spontaneous blizzards at the summit, we faced it all.  We were lucky to make good timing on the first day and seek shelter from the thunderstorm that hit upon our arrival at the Okaka hut.  We slept in the warm company of our trail guide dog (nicknamed George W. Bushwacker), who happened to follow us from the car to the top of the mountain and remain with us the rest of the trip.  On the second day, we awoke to a thunderstorm, set out on the trail and suddenly found ourselves in a flurry of snowflakes.  Miles later down the trail, the rain and snow had stopped but the trails had turned to rivers at the lower elevation.  With saturated clothes and worn out feet, the comfort of a woodstove and a bed to sleep on never felt so good at the end of the day.  The third and final day may have felt the longest, but it left us with good weather and strong spirits.  After watching the sunrise over the Southern coast of New Zealand, we left Port Craig and made the final trek along the beach back to the trailhead.  I will never cease to be humbled by nature.