Fun Tidbits

So I know that I am already back from NZ, but the previous posts I have made only cover about 1/8 of my trip, so I figured I would continue to share pictures and adventures...  Here is a random selection of fun tidbits and TMI from my trip.  

 View from the drive into Wanaka

You might all know this by now or have guessed it, but maybe not…  I hitch hiked most of my way across the country.  Like thumb out on the side of the road, getting into cars with strangers heading the same direction that I need to go.  It was pretty fantastic!  I’ll save the stories of some of the characters and experiences for a different post though.

I have blisters on my blisters, and my feet honestly want to fall off.

 Angelus Loop, my last overnight hike.  Probably the coldest 

I've ever camped... my tent froze over that night.  The girl that took 

this at sunrise was staying in the hut with all the other sane people.  

I am most likely in the tent at this point thawing out my feet.

There are a large amount of Asians visiting and relocating to New Zealand.  Which is mildly humorous in that their really fast-moving lifestyle with a “GO!GO!GO!” mentality is a complete opposite to the laid-back, enjoy your environment style of the kiwis.  It’s rather entertaining to see the cultures mix.

 Ha...

For those of you that know me well: There was a spider on my sleeping bag, and I simply brushed it off.  I SIMPLY BRUSHED IT OFF.

I am directionally challenged.  And yet, in NZ I managed to give at least three people accurate directions!  I’m not sure if that means that I am getting better with directions, or was more because the road systems here are extremely simple…

Whitebait, hoohahah!

 I have determined the gender of my backpack (female), but no names yet…

 I poked a hedgehog

There is something that kiwis, Maori, and travelers all have in common.  No one actually knows how to pronounce the word “Maori”.  I kid you not, I’ve asked about 20 kiwis, including Maori, and they all pronounce it differently.  Such pronunciations include: Mahdy, Mowdy, Mowry, Mahry, Mawri, Moori, etc…

I love that this makes me think of Star Wars....

My favorite NZ foods: rhubarb yogurt, real fruit ice cream, and lamb.  If I should ever commit a crime that requires euthanasia, these will be present for my last meal, and I have also found my death sentence chef. 

NOM NOM

I was doing some wine tasting in Nelson, and had just gotten to the second vineyard.  I sat down at the barstool, had a sip of chardonnay, and then all of a sudden I felt this huge sense of vertigo and pitched forward on my stool, feeling like I was going to fall off.  I immediately panicked and did an assessment on my wine intake…I had had less than a quarter glass of wine (trying to be a responsible DD for myself).  I then went through the thought process of “Am I drunk already?!  No… there’s no way I’m that much of a lightweight…So then is there something wrong with me??  That definitely wasn’t normal…Maybe I have an inner ear problem, I should probably go see a doctor when I get home.”  I was later informed that there had been a pretty high-level earthquake in Wellington (southern tip of the North island), which you could very vaguely feel in Nelson (northern tip of the South island).  Whew. 

CARDBOARD CATHEDRAL!!!!  PAPER NERDS UNITE!!!!!!  

Built after the earthquakes in Christchurch nearly demolished the city.

Carrying all of your crap on your back for prolonged periods really makes you question the necessity of the little things; like why do I have deodorant and mascara??  I literally have not worn either since I got to NZ.  I have also realized that I own entirely too much.  I have made it for almost 7 weeks rotating between 3 shirts and 3 bottoms.  And a dress that I’ve worn like 3 times (mainly when I get the opportunity to do laundry…)  I shaved my legs for the first time in about a month, and I am not going to tell you how many days I have referred to “Wet Wipes” as “Shower”.

 Jaclyn, this picture is for you.  Guess how many weeks 

it has been since I last shaved?

Not taking a shower for a very long time makes your hair super disgustingly oily.  Everyone’s strategy; cover it up.  So when a braid doesn’t work or I’m simply feeling too lazy, I resort to my hat.  Which makes me feel a lot like Meg from Family Guy.  Every once in awhile I wonder if something is growing under there…like an apple tree from all the seeds I’ve eaten in order to reduce weight that I carry around, or an alien.

 Seriously, what IS under there??

I am also turning into a raccoon.  Everyone here keeps offering me food…I’m not quite sure why, but who am I to reject their kindness?  Especially if it means chocolate.  I will NEVER turn down chocolate.

That leads into another point; I will be coming back to the states fatter than I left.  Hiking these distances has made me crave nothing but sugars and carbs.  It is horrible and depressing to think about, but it is a true statement.  

 

Beautiful life

I do not understand foreign male fashion.  I am not sure why guys are wearing short shorts that barely hide their pearls, but they do.  And they have more hair product in their perfectly feminine Bieber hairdo’s than I have ever worn in my life.   And while it is popular for guys to style their hair, it is equally as trendy for girls to have messy hair.  As in I think they purposely mess it up for that “I just don’t care” look.  Granted, I have no room to talk, considering I consistently rock the “messy, unkempt” look.  But I excuse mine because it is out of laziness, not fashionability.

Mullets...alive and well in NZ....

 Spoiler to the Finding Nemo sequel, Finding Dori: she’s in New Zealand.

If kiwis had a phrase to describe me, it would probably be “that crazy American that consistently cries on beaches and cafes”.  I have been reading a truly inspirational and extremely heavy book called “Half the Sky”.  If you have not read it, I would seriously, seriously recommend it to you.  In fact, you can all borrow my copy if you like.  It is one of the most emotional, inspirational, tragic, and eye-opening books I have ever read about the disparity of women in third world countries.  Some of the stories end in tragedy and some with moving endings, but what they all have in common is that they motivate you to get involved and make a difference in whatever you find passion in.  Read it.

Moeraki Boulders...One of my favorite side trips

During the intermission between the Watercolours and Lorde concerts, I entertained myself with a social experiment…  So you all know how standing room concerts can be; the too tall people are always in front, and the short girls are always trying to find some advantage to see better.   Some resort to shoving through the crowd to get to the front.  Other girls band together to not let others in front of them.  Some girls ask their boyfriends to put them up on their shoulders.  I had found my spot; standing on the power chord covers in order to get a couple extra inches up.  I could see the stage perfectly.  Done.  Another girl realized how awesome my spot was. She was standing in front of me holding hands with her boyfriend with a decent view, but she wanted better.  She had one of those adorably carefree messy buns that probably took 40 minutes to pin up, and was obviously used to being babied due to her petite stature.  So as she backed up into me, expecting me to move away, I stood there, planted.  She had moved her way so far back into me, that we were now awkwardly touching, and her hair kept going in my eyes and nose.  So I gave one big puff to blow it out of my face.  She flinched, startled, but stood her ground, looking to her boyfriend with wide eyes that said Did you see that??   

 This view is why I wasn't willing to give up my spot...

So I thought, OK, I wonder how long this girl will stand her ground with me being super awkward behind her.  So I started breathing heavily out of my nose onto her neck.  Now, mind you; I realize how creepy I sound.  And I am.  But the fact is, I literally had not moved my feet an inch since I got there.  Her head was an inch from my face, and her back was on my hands that I had crossed in front of me because she had moved that far back.  So this is totally her fault.  Every time I reached for my camera or into my jacket, she flinched like I had burned her on her back.  She grabbed her boyfriend’s hand with this SAVE ME look on her face, but remained stoic.  Every time I took a breath, she looked back at me with that What is wrong with you?! stare, and then again at her boyfriend going, Seriously, do you see this crazy loon?!  Aren’t you going to do something?!  It took 20 minutes before she finally moved next to me and pulled her boyfriend to her and wrapped his arms around her to protect her.  By this point, I had started laughing to myself (which probably did not help my creepiness factor to anyone observing), and then the concert began.  What a great way to pass the time.

This was an amazing concert.  I thought it would be super mellow, but 

turns out, Lorde is kind of baller at getting everyone up and dancing.

For my last bit of rubbing in, and before my afterglow fades away into the gray, wintry skies of Ohio, I want to show a before and after....

(My hair is not really that blonde, but thank you sun 

for disguising me as a beach bum...)

Kepler Track

One of the biggest highlights of my trip has been the tramps (that’s what they call hiking here people, get your heads out of the gutter).  Below are pictures and stories of the first of two of the most beautiful hikes I’ve ever been on – the Kepler also being the scariest hike I have ever done.

Kepler Track, brief reprieve from less than ideal weather.

New Zealand has a list of Great Walks in certain areas of the country, which are considered some of the prettiest hikes that you could do.  The Milford Track (my second of the hikes) alone has been rated one of the best hikes in the world. 

The main complication with these walks is that New Zealand is a little strict on it’s “freedom camping” (camping outside of designated campsites) and requires you to book (and pay for, grrr) either huts or a campsite.  Some of them you can get away with finding camping far enough off the path that it is allowed, but the Milford is actually so highly regulated that they only let a certain amount of people make the tramp every day. 

Another issue is that I came during NZ summer…which means that everyone and their mother has booked these walks.  Supposedly the Milford you have to book a couple months in advance, unless you’re really lucky like me and you get in on a cancellation.

Additional complication; scheduling based on availability sometimes means that you have to do the tramps back to back with no rest in between…. so I did.

Kepler Track

Length: 50.6 km or 31.4 mi (it can be longer, but I skipped a couple portions in order to get back to town for the Milford Track)

1180m ascent, 1200m descent

Milford Track

Length: 54 km or 33.6 mi

950m ascent, 1155m descent

So I’ll start with the Kepler.  I booked campsites, which made for a very easy first day, and an extremely long (22.8 km/14.2mi), arduous (1180m ascent, 900m descent), and beautiful/terrifying/frustrating second day.  While the huts are spaced out conveniently, campsites are inconveniently far from each other.  This was followed by an easy but long and cranky third day, and a short but tiring fourth day.

Campsite for the first night.  I absolutely love the sunset/sunrise skylines here.

Remember how I was teasing all of you back in the states about going during NZ summer while you all freeze to death?  Well, karma bit my butt as soon as I headed to the west coast.  The coastal weather here is schizophrenic; you can go from a very nice, warm, sunny day, to the sky opening up and dumping buckets of rain and the temperature dropping so far that you need your winter gear.  The altitude in the mountains doesn’t help either, of course.  But we’ll get to the weather more in a second.  First, let me tell you how I’m going crazy.

Rockin' the baseball look...Karma you suck.

Hiking alone gives you way too much time with yourself.  Some people say that they are able to zone out and clear their heads when they hike, but I don’t.  Instead, I carry on conversations with myself about everything.  When I realized this, I thought maybe I would seem less crazy if I directed my inner conversations to my backpack.  But that made me feel a bit like Dora the Explorer, and I would rather be crazy.  I have even started to narrate my thoughts and actions (think Cher from Clueless…. will someone watch this with me when I get home???).  It actually gets to a point where I get annoyed with myself, so I have to put in headphones to shut myself up.  I mean seriously, I’m a huge whiner.

Example conversation:

“Oww, my feet hurt, I don’t want to do this anymore!”

“Katy, toughen up, it’s just a few more hours uphill, you can do this.”

“But I don’t wanna anymore!  It’s rainy and cold and I’m bored!”

“Bored?!  Look at the mountains, you idiot!  And a little rain never hurt anyone!  Just keep going!”

“I’m hungry!  Let’s stop for food!”

“….You just ate your body weight 20 minutes ago.  No.”

“But I'm STARVING!”

“We’ll eat in another hour, hold off until then.”

“More uphill?!  I thought you said it was over!!”

“GOOD GOD, SHUT UP AND KEEP HIKING!”

Yup, crazy.

But back to the Kepler, the second day was definitely the highlight of the trip.  The first part started through this beautiful forest.  It was very windy, so the trees would knock together and creak.  I now know where they got the sound effects (or maybe the actual cast) for the trees in Lord of the Rings. 

The majority of the tramp that day (probably around 6-7hours) is spent on the ridgeline, exposed to all the elements…including wind that will literally knock you off your feet (I was later informed that this means the wind is going about 50-60mph), and ice cold rain pelting you horizontally with help from the wind.  Add that in with a ridgeline path that is about 2-3feet wide with very steep drop-offs on either side down the mountain, the fact that you are the only one hiking at this point, and a heavy pack that you are still adjusting to…. this produces a very frightened Katy.

Not a huge fan of this section, and others like it....

A couple hours in to the relentless wind, I really did just have to sit down behind a rock and calm down.  With my pack adding extra resistance in the wind, I was constantly having to hunch over or hold onto grasses and rocks along the side to keep from losing my balance.  It’s not like I was going to die, but these constant conditions really did put a lot of strain on my mental and physical stamina. 

It is the first time I have ever looked up at the mountains surrounding me and truly felt respect – and fear.  I had this very clear realization that I was at the mercy of Mother Nature and she could do whatever she wanted with me.  The ominous clouds would clear up, and the sun would shine through long enough to see a rainbow and create hope for better weather, which were then crushed by the next tide of dark clouds and rain.  The wind never stopped.

Stunning views when I stopped being a baby and actually looked up.

I seriously considered staying at an emergency hut they have up there, but I forced myself to continue the rest of the way.  This is where talking to myself came in handy; I am very good at moral support.  Anytime I got upset, I reminded myself to look up and admire the stunning views of the mountains to take my mind off the conditions.

By the time I finally got off the ridgeline and completed the steep descent to the hut, I was mentally and physically done.  It was full on raining now, almost dark, and I still had to set up a tent.  I reached the hut (essentially a cabin with dorm-style beds and a kitchen and toilets), and just sat down and stared.  It was actually so pathetic-looking that this couple came out to check that I was alright, and the hut ranger gave me a bed to stay in for the night.  Thank.  God.

"Stay close to the candles.  The stairs can be....quite treacherous..."

But putting aside my pathetic-ness, it really was a stunning hike and a great learning experience about Nature and myself.  

The remainder of the hike was through beautiful forests.  It rained the entire third day, clearing up long enough for me to pitch a tent and enjoy a dip in the lake.  I was the only one camping and had the beach entirely to myself.  The fourth day, I walked in utterly exhausted, and about to start the Milford Track.  The nice couple who had helped me at the hut also gave me all their leftover food (they packed enough food to last a week longer than they needed), so that I didn’t have to grocery shop.  Kiwis are collectively the most generous people I have ever met.

Campsite Two, all to myself

Next, onto the Milford Track, where we hiked through thigh-high water with eels!

Happy New Years...Belated!!!!

Happy New Years Everyone!  I know, it is rather late to be saying that...but in my defense I haven't had internet for awhile.

Hope everyone brought in the New Year exactly how they wanted, and that resolutions for a better year were made.

Lake Wanaka

 

I spent my New Years alone this year.  Sounds pathetic, right?  But I think it was exactly what I needed.  I hiked up around Lake Wanaka, found a nice and cozy Cliffside with a great view and enough foliage to block the wind (and me from the view of other hikers).  I made a picnic for myself with some garlic salami, cheese, fresh apricots and nectarines, carrots, a lemon pastry, and some local sauvignon blanc.  I then waited for the sun to set (seriously, it’s around 10:30, if not later, before it is completely dark here) and for 2013 to end.  

My lunchtime view...which ended up being my NYE view.  It's sad..it took the 

fireworks to wake me up to actually know it was the new year....

It’s funny how something as silly as a date on the calendar can make us reflect on our lives and wish for something new/different/better.  And given that I had hours of alone time to drink my wine and reflect on 2013, I had probably TOO much time to come up with a laundry list of resolutions.  Like work on my abs.  Seriously, this backpack of mine has taught me that core stabilization is everything in terms of balance and stability…and I am severely lacking.

My New Year's sunrise.  It looked as if the mountains were on fire.  

Soon after, it started raining. The beginning of a series of rainy 

days on my travels.

SHEEP.  The only other company I had on my 6am walk on New Year's day.

So I’ve been trying really hard to not be all sappy during this blog, but there is one big revelation that really struck me, and that applies to a lot of my friends I think, so I want to share it.  So definitely feel free to stop reading as I decide to go against my usual emotional introversion and share a thought.

I’m tired of settling.  Of being told to lower my expectations. 

I was on a hike the other day, and as soon as I got alone in the bush, I found myself getting frustrated, thinking about some of the things that had happened in 2013.  And then I got even more frustrated, because I kept telling myself that this trip was about resetting and leaving all of that in the past and to not dwell on it.  I kept trying and trying to think of other things, but each time I did, I thought of something else that had hurt me this year. 

And then I finally came to this realization; this trip is not about forgetting and restarting for the new year.  It is about rediscovering what I want out of myself, relationships, a career, and why I did not find it this year.  Erasing thoughts from my mind and simply “moving on” does not help me address and correct the frustrations from this year.

So back to my revelation; I am tired of settling.  I have consistently been told that I should lower my expectations; that it is OK for a boss to make me feel worthless, sabotage my career, and harass me (because, hey, there are asshole bosses everywhere, and the company is not going to fire him, so you might as well tolerate it).  That it is OK for men to tell me to lower my standards, accept “lies and an inability to commit” as “not knowing what I want”, and tolerate crude behavior (because Katy, all men are like this and this is a new generation of dating; things have changed and you just need to be more open-minded).  That I’m not supposed to be hurt by a friendship fading because they no longer feel the desire to make time for me and do not value me in the way that I value them (you should really not be so emotionally sensitive; these things happen and people come and go in life).

It’s like everything has been telling me to desensitize myself to being hurt and to not hold others (and myself) accountable for how actions affect others.  We are so worried about saying things that might offend others, or being considered too sensitive or naïve in this cutthroat world that we pretend that we are ok with sacrificing our feelings or desires for someone else.  Obviously, this does not apply to all cases; it is good to sacrifice and be selfless for those you love.  But when it means changing ourselves to lower expectations, then I don’t think it is necessarily healthy.

So I guess with all that long rambling, I’m trying to say that no one should settle.  Many of us are emotional creatures, and we should all hold each other accountable for our actions so that we can all be aware of how to improve and be better support for each other.   And I know a lot of incredible people out there that deserve more than they receive and should be treated better than they are.  I hold myself accountable for this too…  I have a lot of making up to do on my friends, family, and myself!

Anyway, enough sappiness, sorry about that.  Happy New Years, everyone!

Kawarou Bungy, 43m jump from a bridge, where bungy originated.

This picture definitely paints a much braver picture…what you don’t see is the girl

 hysterically giggling up at the top, telling the guys she is terrified, and then 

screaming a high-pitched, Hollywood-worthy scream the entire way down…and the

 entire way up.  I was informed that I won the “Scream of the Day” award.

Merry Christmas and Other Shenanigans!

The past week has been awesomely mellow, mainly spent with family for the holidays.  Tomorrow my adventures pick back up as I head to the west coast in search of some pretty views.  Some highlights from this past week:

Bus terminal.  I tried running into the pillar with a shopping cart, but to no avail :(

In fact, they told me to get out.

Sunset from the ferry.

 

The amazing view I had for breakfast from my cousin's friend's house.  They were kind enough to house me for my two nights in Picton.  I am so lucky to have met such wonderful people!

While there, I made friends with Zook:

His hobbies include chewing on my arm, talking, and shedding.

 

Took their pony, Bella, for a walk: 

 I WANT ONE.

 

Had an amazing walk down "The Snout" with a great view of Marlborough Sounds:

Purdy.

 

And learned how to be a terrible salsa dancer.  We really don't need to see a picture of me and my two left feet, but I learned from some amazing people with unbelievable talent.

 

Side story: the family I stayed with have two younger boys (under 10, I think).  You know, serious props to mothers with sons, because you have to be ready for absolutely anything...  I had just gotten out of the shower when I hear out in the hall "I HAVE TO POOP" and see the doorknob turn.  I scramble to throw on a towel and try to find the right words to say "Please kindly wait two seconds, and I'll be out in a jiffy! [before I get kicked out of this house and arrested for being exposed to a 4-year old]".  Luckily, disaster was averted, but I was quickly informed by the boy that there was another bathroom in his parent's room that he could use, since I was taking so long.  The next day, same 4-year old is running around the house naked, when he suddenly realizes that I'm there.  He screams "STOP LOOKING AT MY PRIVATES!" to which the only suitable response I could come up with was to wail back "THEN PUT SOME PANTS ON!" before I scurried away to hide in my room.  Yup, motherhood is not in the near future...

The rest of the time I have spent getting to know some wonderful family members and getting to meet some awesome cousins of mine.

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and have a very Happy New Years!

Dumb Decisions on the Tongariro Northern Circuit

These are the conditions of a moron hiking the Tongariro Northern Circuit:

Length of Circuit: 34.6 km, or 21.5mi     (Alright, let's do it!)
Maximum Altitude: 1886m     (Sweet, great views!)
Altitude Differential: approx 790m max    (That's not too bad.)
Pack Weight: approx. 40lbs     (Uh, are you sure?)
My Physical Condition: moderate; previously in a hibernation period for winter where I eat too much and whine about it being too cold to go for a run     (I'm not thinking you're quite prepared for this kind of trek...)
Caloric Consumption: some rice, a small potato, curry seasoning, trail mix, granola bars, and a carrot     (Rabbits have eaten more than this in a day...you really didn't prepare so well...)
Time Duration Chosen to Complete Trail: 2 days     (....Yup, you're seriously a moron.)

The beginning of a love/hate relationship.

So all in all, it was a beautiful hike.  The trek takes you between two active volcanoes, Tongariro and Ngaurahoe (the model for Mount Doom in Lord of the Rings).  You get to see some geothermal areas, Red Crater, the Emerald Lakes, and some pretty beautiful skylines.  The area is so interesting, in that the evidence of prior eruptions has littered the area with black and red lava rock formations.  

Could the real Mount Doom please stand up? 

In the squatting position to avoid being blown over the edge.  

My pack and I were not on speaking terms at this point.

Red Crater

Emerald Lakes

You continue walking through a valley with flint rock, tan and black sand, and large rock formations protruding from random areas of the walk.  Further in, you walk across rolling plains of sand where sparse vegetation has begun to grow and flower.  It was somewhat eery, the lack of presence of noise or wildlife; just the wind rustling the high grasses. 

 Pretty view

Pretty awful view from my campsite the first night...

Then you cross down past a stream and into a forest of beech trees, where you feel like you're in the rainforest.  Birds call an exotic song, the air is humid and chilled, and you can hear water running below.  Out of the forest, it was a long walk across decently flat grasslands.  Easy right? 

Beautiful grasses

In my defense, I was going to make this a 3-day trip, but I met up with some other hikers and continued to press on further before setting up camp.  I hiked about 12 hours that first day...  Oh well, live and learn!  It was an amazing trip, and it felt pretty sweet to say that I saw Mount Doom and hiked through Mordor!