Routeburn and Kepler Tracks!

Finally getting out into the real wild seeing New Zealand at its best! Last Monday me and my two buddies Richie and Pete Set off for an expected 7 day hiking trip. starting with the Routeburn Track which was planned for 3 days. We did it in 1.5.... the guys killed it! The hike was the best hike i have every been on for many reasons. 1. It by no means was an easy hike. 2. The views were unreal and changed so much through out the hike. 3. Its New Zealand!

And were off!

Day 1 amazing rest spot had to sit down for a pb&j!!

New Zealand has some amazing hiking trails that are very well maintained along with a countless cable bridges with amazing views! 

Me and Richie at the water fall that comes off the lake in the picture below. This was towards the end of day 1 so we decided we needed to go swimming.... well i was the first one in and after they saw the look on my face they knew the water was ice cold! So the idea of a swim turned into a jump in and out real quick! ha 

I think this was my favorite lake. The mountains were so close.. the sound of the water fall rushing in the back and the view was just too good!!

Putting in work!

When we reached a little more than half way on the hike we decided that it was time to start looking for the dream camp spot! It didn't take long and i saw this shelf up in the mountains and knew that would be a great spot... the hike up was not easy getting up there...blazing our our own trail through waste high brush. Once we all got up there we agreed 110% was well worth the struggle getting up! 

That night i knew i needed to stay up late because i needed to take a photo with the stars and the tents lit up and the guys were well keen for doing the same. We watched the sun fall behind the Darran Mountain Range then it started to set in .... its going to be a cold night! 

The next day was a pretty chill day of hiking got to see this Beautiful waterfall! 

And go for a swim in this crazy turquoise rock filled lake! Not much warmer than the first lake but bearable for a little swim!

Heres where the story starts ... BOOM! were done! AMAZING HIKE!!... So now on to the next one right!?... Well the guys had a little different plan.. they were dead! Bodies were shot. So they were gunna go to Milford sounds and go for a boat ride. I was going to hike the Milford track(the most amazing hike in the world). So we split up.. I Thumbed (new word for hitch hiking my dad told me to use) to the trail head and they thumbed to milford.   I got to the trail head and was in for a pleasant surprise.. If you know me i don't plan much ... well got there found out you need all these permits to camp back there and you need alpine experience to get over this one mountain pass which was 8 hours away. So i said the risk of tickets and having to turn around just wasn't worth it. So screw it! Now ill go to Milford also! I show up in Milford and the guys were so shocked to see me and wanted to know what was going on!? ha so i told them and they are like shit man!? thats sucks but we got to go get on the boat right now!! It leaves in a few mins..we run i bought a ticket and somehow we are back at it all riding this boat through milford sounds ha

Dry...Stoked...Free Tea

Milford is always real rainy and cloudy

Soaked... After math of Water Fall...Stoked

Got to see a bunch of lazy ass seals chilling on rocks

That night was crazy!! To make a long story short.. after the boat ride we took shelter in a bar till the rain stopped... Well yah see the rain never stopped ...and a few beers later we are running into the woods Drunk in the dark with headlamps on to set our tents up in the pouring rain so we could get some sleep. I was stoked to wake up dry and warm.

After that wild night had to have some tea and a great breakfast!

The sandflies are bad in NZ and i heard they were bad in Milford but shit after that rain they were so bad i had to pull out my bug net! hahaha

This is Milford Sounds on a sunny Morning ... lot different from the day before! Glad we got to see both rainy and sunny Milford!

Now this time was for real... we split up i thumbed my way to Te Auan to do the Kepler track.. 63km. It was sunny there so i got to dry my tent off before i set off again.

This hike was a much different hike. Almost double the length of the Routeburn and i was alone... it still had amazing views tho!

After day 1 i got an early start these clouds were still making there way up and out!

This shit never gets old!

Hands down best trail dessert! ... Oatmeal cookie with pb&j on top... try it out!

I did the 63km Hike in a little less than 2 days... i was beat!

Early morning still lake!

Now it was just me and the open road trying to get  ride back to Queenstown! Let me know what yah think! I appreciate all comments good or bad!