Greenstone and Caples Tracks
Type: Loop
Time Spent: 3 nights 4 days backpacking
Distance: 60 km (37- miles)
Elevation change: 4225 meters (approximately 6800 feet)
<Day4>
Near the junction of Caples track and Steel Creek track to the trailhead Divide
Plus side trip to Key Summit
14.1 km (8.8 miles), 427 meters (1400 feet) elevation gain
 |
| Saddle |
This day we started with ascending toward Mckellar saddle. I was expecting much more strenuous climb, but it was easy. I like being in the quiet mountains in the morning. The air was crisp and always mountains are massive. At the saddle I was able to see mountains at 360.
We ate some snack at the saddle. Those snacks were from New World Market in Queenstown where Izzy lives. Snacks reminded me of Izzy and made me smile more at the pretty place.
Then we descended and headed for Key summit. Key summit is a little side trip, but Julie at Mid Caples hut told us it is really nice and definitely should go. So we left our backpacks at the junction and climbed some for the summit. Without a big backpack was nice even on uphill.
Key Summit was.....amazing!
 |
| Key Summit |
360 of mountains. Clouds were rolling in and out continuously, so it was not the same view anytime. This is a good end of the backpacking. You can come to Key Summit as a day hike, too.
 |
| Outdoor toilets |
Then we approached to the trailhead. I knew that the trailhead is coming soon, because the stinky smell came.....from the toilets. The moment I smelled it I remembered the moment I started tramping Greenstone backpacking.
New Zealand toilets have system to be not stinky. Sometimes it works sometimes don't. The left picture is the toilets provided by DOC. I saw more than 100 of this type of toilets at campgrounds, trailheads, etc. As you can see there is transparent staff at the top of the chimney like structure. When there is winds, the transparent thing circles. It take the air from inside the toilet and exhale into the air outside. In that way inside the toilet is supposed to be not stinky, IF the lid of the toilet is closed. Some people don't close the lid, so it is very stinky inside. Sometimes 4 toilets are provided side by side and frequently used (meaning frequently lids are left open), even outside gets super stinky. The trailhead for Greenstone backpacking was the example. I always pinched my nose to go to the toilet. I have 10X more sensitive smelling than Mr.N, so it is always hard for the outside crappers. Mr.N had no problem using stinky toilets at all during NZ trip.
In the evening we went to a free campground where we found on the Wikicamp App. The app indicate that site allows tents, but the park was full of camper vans and there was sign saying no tent. So we went to a nearby private campground. Because it was past 7 p.m. the office was closed, so we put money in the envelope and put in the post. $12/person/night. There is a kitchen area in side the small building with tables, electric stove for cooking, pots, dishes. I was able to charge my camera here. $12 included shower, but there was a code to enter the shower and couldn't get it that night.
In the drizzling morning, I saw the owner went to the office. Then she came to us and said, "Oh sorry your tent was rained. Usually it is not rainy like this." Then she gave us a code for shower. It was funny that she checked the money box first then came to us with being nice.
It was really nice to take a hot shower after backpacking!
No comments:
Post a Comment