Chapter 14: Kepler day 1

22/12/2019

Making my way up to Luxmore hut.

Hmm, what to bring on a 3 day hike. Based on my previous experience when making my backpack the main thing should be less is more. Sleeping bag: check, all different type of layers essential for rain, sun, cold and intermediate weather: check. Outfits that make you look sexy: uncheck (Doing a 60 km hike without showers, you don’t need those things, everyone will be equally unsexy).

High-energy low-weight food: check. Sufficient amount of water: check. Oké, it is time to roll out.

After picking up my tickets at the local DOC, I make my way to the Kepler car park. The sun is shining nicely when I strap on my hiking boots. 5 years after their first big hike in Canada, they still fit snuggly and always transform me into hiking modus! Today should be relatively easy. The first 8 km in the forest is relatively flat following lake Te Anau all the way to the start of Mount Luxmore. A nice spectacle of ferns and trees feels very rainforest like, which results in a high humidity environment. Need to consume that water to stay hydrated! After 1 hour and a half I make it to the start of the climb. Although the climb is only 8 km-ish, going up with a fully loaded backpack is adventurous. I hope my left knee holds out after hurting it when crunching for a picture in Thermal Wonderland. Maybe I might have torn something in that knee, I just don’t know exactly

what yet. Steadily I zigzag up Mount Luxmore. Although I meet some people on the way, most part of the track I travel solo. The result is too much time to think, too much time to focus on my Tinnitus. Common Steven, just focus on the beautiful nature surrounding you. On my way up I meet K-T. An older Asian hiker having cramping legs. He assures me that he is fine and just needs some electrolytes. I just need to inform his wife and kids that he will come in a few moment to the hut. I must admit, this was a strange encounter. After 2 hours of going up, I make it to the tree line. From this point, the environment looks desolated with the amount of flora very limited. Additionally, winds are picking up immensely so I feel like a parachute.

45 min later I make it to the Luxmore hut, my first sleeping place. Since it is only 14.30 pm in the afternoon, I can finally have some proper lunch. I am greeted by the local ranger Alise, which informs me on the housing rules. Grab one of the 54 spots in the hut, make

up the sleeping bag and you are good to go. I make my way to bunk bed lucky number 7. Tonight is going to be full house but at this moment everything is still rather empty. In the large diner/kitchen area I meet K-T’s wife and kids. Apparently she already knows that he will be late. The ranger politely asks her to go help him, since he might be having difficulties. According to the wife he is just stubborn as a donkey and does this all the time when hiking uphill. I must admit, the ranger was not pleased by that answer so eventually, misses K-T makes her way back to the husband to ‘rescue’ the lost hiker.

Soon the hut starts filling up with people. Some clearly more experienced and equipped than other, but all here for one reason. To tramp the Kepler track. Swiftly people start talking to one another and stories of other hikes or bigger problems in life are exchanged. It seems to be that the K-T family is indeed one of the more

experienced in the hut. They go hiking every Sunday. Even more impressive is that one of them is 73 years old and doing his first Great walk of his life. Makes me feel young just shy away from my 31th birthday.

Since hiking up Mount Luxmore consumed a lot of energy, everyone is hungry. For me it is time for some astronaut food. You know those freeze dried things you can buy in adventure shops? Today will be Thai Chicken Curry. Just add 500 ml of boiling water, wait for 15 min and voila, easiest 13 dollar dinner ever. Hmm, boiling water. A lot of gas faucets are present in the kitchen but I might have forgotten something too boil the water? Hahahaha, I can officially count myself as the less experienced and less equipped hiker. Luckily, this hut is like a parade of fancy hiking equipment. Foldable pots, jet boil cookers, hell someone even brought bacon and a full tray of eggs up onto Mount Luxmore. I find some less experienced hikers, which

allow me to use their kettle to boil my water. 30 min later I have diner. I must admit, it kinda tastes well after a day of hiking. Some chicken royco minute soup to finish off the meal and I am set for the day.

At 7.30 pm ranger Elise gives a small talk on what to expect of the hike. More than 20 nationalities listen intensely to her story telling. The main thing to be aware off is the Kea, the only know Alpine Parrot in the world. Ooh don’t let their nice green feathers fool you. They are one of the smartest animals on this planet and will try to trick you to get some food. However, in order to protect this endangered bird, this has to be prevented. Luckily I was already able to snap some pictures without them stealing my food. The weather forecast for tomorrow is good so yeeeeeay!

After the talk we continue with our hiking life. I admire the magnificent view and hike down into the Luxmore cave. The latter was nothing

special but it was literally the only thing you could do out here. I had to dress up properly since I am always cold. I used to be soo good at cold, always being the guy running around in shorts. Now, after the accident, my nervous system can’t handle it and has difficulties regulating my body temperature properly. I scoop up 2 additional layers of merino wool, which keep me warm anytime of the year. At 10.00 pm the lights go out and its time for some sleep. Well, sleeping did not go well but that will be something to worry about tomorrow.