Showing posts with label tramping. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tramping. Show all posts

Monday, March 19, 2012

The Mean Reds



Against his better judgement, my usually most fiercely-logical flatmate has taken to astrology (specifically, the brilliant 'New Astrology' by Suzanne White), so I got the chance to re-read the description of my sign. And, even though I've read it about ten million times, I noticed something I'd never seen before - Truman Capote was also a Libra/ Rat. Holy. Happiness. Out of 144 combinations, I get to share mine with the author of two of my favourite novels ever (Breakfast at Tiffany's and In Cold Blood).

Anyway, in Breakfast at Tiffany's, Holly Golightly describes 'the mean reds':

"You know those days when you've got the mean reds.... the blues are because you're getting fat or maybe it's been raining too long. You're sad, that's all. But the mean reds are horrible. You're afraid and you sweat like hell, but you don't know what you're afraid of. Except something bad is going to happen, only you don't know what it is."


She then famously describes her ideal place to go when she's in such a state - Tiffany's, of course. I don't live in New York, I live in - what I think of as - fairly rural New Zealand, so instead I think of my mountains. Those big ones along the spine of this beautiful island.

Or very small, from a nice distance:


(If you're offended on behalf of that imposing mountain being demeaned in such a crass way, don't worry, I walked alone for two days until I reached those ranges and then did an alpine crossing with a clowder of idiot friends from Australia during a blizzard-esque storm. I got owned, in other words).

MOSS !

p.s. These pictures are from my solo stroll along the Greenstone track, which I walked to get to the 'Divide', where I began the Routeburn with a posse of pals - and of which there are no photographs on my camera, since I was too busy laughing my ass off. xoxo until next time.


Saturday, January 21, 2012

Tautuku Hut, the Catlins



In early December my siblings and I drove down the Catlins (about 1.5 hours south of Dunedin) to take little brother Lukas on his first overnight tramp. We chose a very easy tramp - only two hours each way - to Tautuku hut; a basic, free DOC hut mostly used by hunters who leave notes in the guest book like "PITBULL GOT A DEER ON WAY IN" and the like. We felt badass, by association.

Click on the photo below and read the warning signs - one of these things is not like the other.





Lukas, being the rugged, outdoor kinda online-gamer he is, brought his own sleeping bag. Only problem: it was a Pipsqueak Std (note his feet in the second picture).




At dusk, the surrounding trees were full of native birds, especially Tui (my darlings).



Hardcore Hana and Lazy Lukas above, and the vista over the seemingly infinite forest below.