4:45pm, Mintaro Hut
It was a wet one today, but we made it to the next hut! Our alarm was for 6:30am, to be ready by 8am, but at 6:15am, the warden (Peter Jackson) woke everyone up in the bunk rooms, "Get up, be ready to leave at 7am!" I actually missed it, with my ear plugs, but Wendy woke me up. No breakfast today, but that's ok, we were full from last night's big hamburger salad dinner. There was a lull in the rain, and we were on the trail at 7:15am. Everyone was leaving around the same time. Our swift pace led us to the front of the pack. We were on a mission to get there quick, before the rain got worse, and to claim prime drying rack space in the hut (something valuable we learned on the Rees-Dart track).
The peaceful green river from yesterday was now grey and heavily churning. We followed the wide trail along side it. An hour into our hike the rain kicked in. We pushed hard, and crossed several bridges. The river had risen almost to the trail level, but was holding. Our feet were still dry. We saw poles with arrows on each side of the trail, and realized they were meant as guides when the river flooded over. It was fortunate we started early today, if the river was already this high.
After 2hrs on the trail, we found ourselves standing in front of a small shallow pond that covered the path. There was no way around it. Bye-bye dry feet, it's squishy time! The water level was still a few inches below the knee, but deep enough and long enough to provide a thorough soaking. The water felt refreshing though.
Wendy pauses to take in the waterfalls...
The river neared the brink of the trail in many spots, but we were able to keep dry...
Endless waterfalls unfolded in front of us...
Eventually, we reached a small pond in the trail, and had to slosh through, flooding our boots with water...
The trail ran in and out of the forest, yielding periodic open views of the towering cliffs on each side of the valley. One word: WATERFALLS! So it's true… The Milford track is still magnificent in the rain, and some would argue (including me), more enchanting with an endless gallery of streaming falls sandwiching your peripheral vision. Certainly impressive. It pays to have a good rain storm, at least on day 2 of the Milford track.
Visibility was good for our immediate surroundings, but we couldn't see the mountains ahead at the end of the valley. A sign pops up on the trail for "Hidden Lake". Even though we're in a hurry to reach the next hut, we decided to check out the side trail. It leads to a large pool at the base of the cliffs, where the waterfalls meet the flow. For just a 5-10 minute side hike, it was worthy.
More dreamy waterfalls ahead. We heavy rains were turning out to be a blessing today. On dry days, most of these falls don't exist...
Back on the trail, I noticed my pocket camera stopped working, probably due to wetness. My DSLR was in a ziploc, inside my pack (didn't want to take chances with that).
Given the rain, the trail was still an easy walk, with no stream crossings of any concern. The trail was impressively built, with drainage canals along the sides. The Milford is certainly the best maintained trail I've seen. While passing through a clearing, the impossible happened, a ray of sunlight hits the ground. The moment was very brief, but notable on a day like today. However it wasn't an omen of things to come, as the drizzle set back in.
Man, the Milford is amazing to behold in the rain...
The final mile of the trail climbed gently to Mintaro Hut, where we arrived at 11:12am. Less that 4hrs from Clinton Hut (including small side trip)! One other guy finished ahead of us. We claim our bunks (near windows, hooks, and an extinguisher to hang something on) on the 1st floor (only 16 of 40 bunks on ground floor). Then we change into dry clothes, and hang up our wet stuff. Our hopes are dashed when we see the bathroom is detached from the main hut again. Eventually more people arrive. The US and Holland couple are next to arrive, and get bunks near us.
Time for breakfast and lunch (as we were rushed out the door this morning): egg salad with veggies and mayo packets, and chorizo, PBJ, chocolate, and tortillas.
We visit with the 2 other couples, about the hike today, rain, and cards, eventually leading to a 6 player game of Hearts. This forces us to learn each others names, as I write down the scorecard. We have Ivo and Femke from Holland, Kurt and Rebecca from the northwest, US (and happened to have spent the last 2 years living in Holland). Wendy wins with a score of -2 (me 2nd at +2). Next Ivo teaches us to play Farmer's Bridge, which is similar to a game we know (Diminishing Bridge), but they only play with 7-A, and bidding goes around in a circle, and the total can't match the number of cards dealt. Scoring is 10 if you make a bid of 0 or 1, and an extra 10 for each successful bid more than 1. -1 if you miss the bid.
A bond has certainly developed between the 6 of us, adding a whole new dimension to this tramp. Feels like a Fellowship of the Milford. I brought out my 14ercards to show, and they all liked it. The warden happened to stop by, and gave them a look. She was surprised these impressive peaks were all in Colorado (a part of the US she had yet to visit). "How can all these peaks be in one state?!" she exclaimed.
Back in the bunk room, we all had a long chat together about traveling the world, NZ, and work.
The rain is heavy now. My camera is still not working, and I filled up an SD card today. There's a fire going in the wood stove. People are arriving wet . Lots of clothing hangs above the stove. They could certainly use more drying racks here. Kind of surprised the Milford doesn't have more, given the frequent rain storms. The hut talk is at 7:30pm tonight. We're sitting at a table near the windows. Others are using headlamps in the dark corners of the common room. Many people have arrived exhausted, and are taking naps. This is probably not the vacation many of these folks imagined when they booked this track 8 months ago for their one tramping vacation of the summer.
9:38pm, Mintaro Hut
Wendy taught Kurt Rummy 500 this evening, and we played several 3 player hands before dinner. Dinner (6:30pm) was another day with a first: Raw egg poached in water, dumped into WG mix (poached eggs = good!), yams, tuna packet, with pumpkin for dessert. Plus the usual chocolate and PB. We also opened up a packet of freeze dried ice cream, and gave the gang a taste. The hut warden spoke about the weather, which should be better tomorrow, but we aren't allowed to leave until the update ~7am. The trail was underwater in spots today, and there have been huge deluges this evening, with only brief lulls (better hit the bathrooms). We taught the crew 6 handed Euchre, which was well received. We played a game and a half before the solar lights turned off, and played one more hand by headlamp before getting ready for bed at 9:30. The rest of the people were already in their bunks. I guess we're the "young rowdy ones", up past 9:30 on a school night!
The hut warden told us not to leave tomorrow morning, until she updated us with the latest weather report...
Time to weather the rain and hit the bathrooms. Planning a 6:30am alarm to be ready for an early start. The storm should stop in the morning. It's just "showers" forecasted tomorrow morning turning to "rain" in the evening.
Lots of cards and good company on this tramp.