On a beautiful half-Saturday off, Susan and I decided to hike the Skyline Track. This started with a hike up Mount Roy, a popular viewing spot around the lake from the town of Wanaka. There were a ton of people (and sheep and cows) on this part of the track, including some fellow balloonatics from the EUSO group, who are also preparing to launch here. Though instead of descending the way we came up, we took the longer through-route to the Cardrona Valley. From Roy’s Peak, we followed the ridge over to Mount Alpha, which is the main reason we decided to go this way. The ridge did not disappoint! Following Mount Alpha was a straightforward but long descent to a little roadside carpark where (with Emaad’s help) we’d previously stashed Susan’s rental car to get home.
The beginning
Looking up towards Roy's Peak
In the weeds
Sheep
Lots of sheep
Susan and Lake Wanaka
Pausing for sheep
Susan catches me looking at the sheep
Thistle, hills, lake
The observation point
Observation point selfie
Switchbacks
So many switchbacks
Roy's Peak Panorama
Sheep crossing
The ridge between peaks is fun!
The ridge over to Mount Alpha
New microclimate
Susan calls it "like Labrador"
Looking down at Wanaka
"The hard part"
The final ascent up the ridge to Mount Alpha
I take a break
"Lion turtle" in the hill
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Looking down
Weird rock
Sunbeams over the valley
Mount Alpha summit
Roughly the mid-point of the hike
Start of the descent
It goes on for a long while
Grassland
A new microclimate
Setting sun
Time running short
Even more setting sun
Time running shorter
Muddy feet
I get a few soakers, losing my footing a bit as we lose light
Still sane?
At the end
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