A Dangerous Business

Date: 27th January 2024 Start: Hope Kiwi Lodge (km 2113.8) End: Hurunui Hut (km 2131.6) Distance Travelled: 17.8 km Total Distance Completed: 1969.3 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: This Is the Kingdom by Elevation Worship Bumblebee Betrayals: just one, but it really stung The timbers of Hope Kiwi Lodge creaked and groaned all night…

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Date: 26th January 2024 Start: Windy Point (km 2098.4) End: Hope Kiwi Lodge (km 2113.8) Distance Travelled: 16.1 km Total Distance Completed: 1951.5 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Hear The Cry by P&W Collective Consequences of Hiker Hunger: a stupidly heavy pack and sore joints One rest day was not enough. All I wanted…

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Date: 25th January 2024 Ah, Hanmer Springs. Despite all the road trips I went on as a child with my family in Aotearoa, we never visited Hanmer, so I was looking forward to exploring this resort town a bit more. Before then, I made sure to have a good old sleep in at the hostel…

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Date: 24th January 2024 Start: Boyle Flat Hut (km 2074.2) End: Boyle Village (km 2087.1) Distance Travelled: 12.9 km walked + 8.3 km hitched (21.2 km total) Total Distance Completed: 1935.4 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: LION by Elevation Worship Hitching Success: increasing Good grief it’s cold. Have I gone back in time to…

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Date: 23rd January 2024 Start: Anne Hut (km 2056.8) End: Boyle Flat Hut (km 2074.2) Distance Travelled: 17.4 km Total Distance Completed: 1914.2 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: The Proof of Your Love by for KING & COUNTRY False Starts: 1 I was startled awake at some ridiculous hour by the sound of a…

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Date: 22nd January 2024 Start: Waiau Hut (km 2030.8) End: Anne Hut (km 2056.8) Distance Travelled: 26 km Total Distance Completed: 1896.8 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Andy Serkis’ narration of the Battle of Helm’s Deep Today’s Terrain: a very grassy pancake I can now understand why some people listen to the sound of…

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Date: 21st January 2024 Start: West Sabine Hut (km 2007.3) End: Waiau Hut (km 2030.8) Distance Travelled: 23.5 km Total Distance Completed: 1870.8 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Days Like These by Hillsong United Views from Waiau Pass: indescribable Hey ho, it’s time for another one of those days which I’m a bit scared…

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Date: 20th January 2024 Start: John Tait Hut (km 1992.5) End: West Sabine Hut (km 2007.3) Distance Travelled: 14.8 km Total Distance Completed: 1847.3 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Honey in the Rock by Brooke Ligertwood Rain Avoidance: timed to perfection I don’t know why I bother setting an alarm in huts. There’s always…

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Date: 19th January 2024 Start: Alpine Lodge, St Arnaud (km 1967.9) End: John Tait Hut (km 1992.5) Distance Travelled: 24.7 km Total Distance Completed: 1832.5 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Beds Are Burning by Midnight Oil Weather: just generally garbage 11 hours in civilisation is all I will get. Despite no change in the…

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Date: 18th January 2024 Start: Red Hills Hut (km 1947.1) End: Alpine Lodge, St Arnaud (km 1967.9) Distance Travelled: 20.8 km Total Distance Completed: 1807.8 km Song Currently Stuck in Head: Don’t Tread On Me by We The Kingdom Hitchhiking Success: all time low I… I did it. I finished the Richmond’s. And I did…

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