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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