Roaring Lion Hut, May 2022
As it turned out, the weather on the West Coast was proving fickle, and instead I decided to somewhere closer at hand, Kahurangi National Park.
Initially, I was thinking just to venture into Venus Hut for a few days from Flora Saddle carpark, but when I made it to Karamea Bend Hut, the Karamea River was as low as I’d seen it. The weather forecast was great for the following two days and I thought I’d give the route down the valley to the Roaring Lion Hut a go. If it didn’t work out I could always turn around.
A now or never moment. If I didn’t do it in these perfect conditions, I never would.
Just the 18 river crossings on my way down. The last required swimming over the lake-like river.
A few less on my return.
With the crossing of Baton Saddle, and having my longest-ever day tramping on my penultimate day, Day 10, a big 40 K steps, it proved a decent test of my physical capabilities. A bare pass.
I was thinking that should cure my wanderlust for a while. Maybe.
It went like this.