Mackinnon Pass
Fiordland National Park, New Zealand - Day 11
Once again startled to consciousness, Katie and I prepared for the toughest portion of the hike, Mackinnon Pass. The hike to the next lodge was only nine miles long, but included an elevation change of about 4,500 feet, up and then back down the pass. Katie and I spent some of our hike chatting with another one of our guides, Kelly. He is a native kiwi, but has traveled all around the world. A heartbreaking story he told us was when he had spent five years traveling around the world. While on the trip he had filmed his adventures on a camcorder that he always kept with him. Just a few days before he was to catch a flight back home for the first time in five years, his camcorder was stolen out of his bag! Kelly is an outstanding guide and such an interesting person.
The views of the pass were outstanding, honestly breathtaking. All around were beautiful mountains, some green while others grey and dotted with snow, the taller ones cutting through the amazingly blue sky and forming clouds in their wake. In one area there was a jet stream over the pass where you could walk through newly formed clouds and strong, howling winds. It was the most spectacular scenery I have ever seen with my own eyes. The scene was hard to leave with such a view, but we were only half done with the days hike so we carried on. Carefully placing one foot in front of the other, we slowly and safely made it to the next lodge. It wasn't till later that we had learned that someone had died falling on the ascent of Mackinnon Pass somewhat recently. The trail was hard for us, but we had all sunshine and it was dry. For most hikers, they have to navigate this pass in the pouring rain on slippery rocks. Katie and I made it over Mackinnon Pass with our lives, but our knees paid for it. My right knee was hurting me, while Katie's left was hurting her.
Since we are crazy people, after the days grueling hike was done, we went on an optional hour and a half hike to see New Zealand's tallest waterfall, Sutherland Falls. I am glad that we did though because it was a spectacular sight. For dinner that night we met a family of four from America. They had two daughters (the younger one not as thrilled to be there) and were from Minnesota. John was a helicopter doctor and his wife was a pediatrician. They loved to travel and Katie and I really enjoyed hearing about their stories and places they have been.
