The hike started off easily enough: it was a nice gradual hike, and the temperature was cool, but pleasant once we started walking. However, once we started climbing up, we entered a cloud, and things got wetter and windier. The clouds would occasionally clear up enough so we could get some idea of the views around us, but for the most part we just plodded along, trying not to get blown off the trail (at one point we hit a super-windy stretch and the two girls I was hiking with had to actually crouch down for 5 minutes to avoid being blown over - crazy!).
Finally we started to descend again and broke back out of the clouds. We made it to a hut where everyone in our group crowded around the stove, trying to warm their hands, feet, posteriors, etc. After that the last hour and a half was quite pleasant. No more clouds, and our clothes more or less dried off as we hiked.
Once we got to our hostel there was a mad rush for the hot showers, and then we pretty much lazed around, recuperating. It was definitely an early night for all us exhausted hikers - I was the last person in my dorm room to turn out the light, and it was just past 10:00.
And of course, the next day when we got up to catch the bus to Wellington the weather was perfect - not a cloud to be seen over the crossing! Oh well, at least we have good stories from our adventure. Pictures below:
At the start of the crossing. Apparently I didn't get the memo that this was a serious moment
At the soda springs - one of the nicer photo opportunities before we disappeared into the clouds
it's windy at the top!
at the emerald lakes - you can't really see the color through the clouds, but it's gorgeous on a clear day. This will have to do...
hiking the moonscape
all the soggy hikers crowd around the hut stove
time for a star jump!
We made it! Fellow Stray-ers gather at the end of the hike, waiting for our shuttle back
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