Te Araroa Trail – Day 110
Sunday February 25, 2024
Distance/ Total: 10.2 km / 6.3 mi
Today was a Nero (near zero) day as we made arrangements to get shuttled around the Rangitata River, the second of the two braided rivers we had to detour around.
I had sent an email last night to Jenny at Peel Forest Farmstay to see if they could provide a shuttle for Shaun, Ivy (another US hiker) and myself. She replied this morning that she could and would pick us up early afternoon.
The 3 of us ate breakfast and loitered around the Lodge this morning waiting for our ride. The Lodge owner was very obliging and spent some time visiting with us.
Jenny arrived about 12:30 and we were right in the middle of our lunch. She let us finish then we loaded up and headed down the road. it was about a 2 hour trip around the river to a stop at her place for tea, coffee, and biscuits (cookies). Steve (her husband) then drove us the remaining hour to the trailhead.
We started down the trail about 4:00pm for the 10 km hike to Crooked Spur Hut. The hike was pretty slow going with the first 8 km being a walk up the Bush Stream riverbed. We crossed the river about 30 times and walked straight up the rocky riverbed.
After 8km the trail began a steep climb up toward Crooked Spur. We reached the hut about 7:20pm. I collected water, cleaned up and changed into my night clothes, and cooked dinner in the hut. I was in bed by 8:40 and ready to get some rest for a big day tomorrow.
