I think it rained most of the night, we were hopeful that it might stop after breakfast like it did yesterday - sadly a vain hope. I dressed for the wet but couldn't decide how many layers for the colder climes on the top of the pass - in the end I decided to put leggings under my trousers.
This morning the operation was geared for an earlier start - the generator was on early, sandwich making was from 0630 followed by breakfast and away by 0730. Today the guides wanted to ensure the group stayed together and that everyone was always behind the lead guide. Annabel led and we followed; at the first hut after 1 hour or so I removed my leggings as I was getting too warm - I didn't know how good a move this would be at the time but it was priceless! The first part of the walk was relatively flat to start with but ended with practice hill, a heart pounding uphill segment, the next part was the start of the real uphill sections. All the rivers were raging due to the recent and continuing rainfall - as we started the zig zags ( 11 switch backs in total) I was glad I had lost a layer to my bag; when we got to mile marker 15 we were half way up. Just before we emerged from the trees Annabel took flasks of hot chocolate from her ruck sack and served us one each - this was probably the most obscure place I have or ever will drink hot chocolate. Kelly arrived and took over to serve those coming behind while Annabel and 8-10 of us trudged onto the top -we were now above the tree line and it was definitely more exposed, colder and windier. At the top McKinnons memorial could be made out through the cloud. The couple from New Caledonia decided to take a closer look - I didn't tarry as I was getting colder and wetter by the second. It seemed a long 30 minutes to Mckinnons Hut as I tramped along the paths - many were running rivers- and crossed tundra type vegetation and passed small alpine ponds. Eventually the hut appeared and after trying 3 sides I finally found the door to the guided walkers room ( they split guided and independent - we have had showers they haven't ! ) and was first to arrive. Annabel had the hot water and heaters on and advised getting out of the wet layers and putting dry layers on because even if that gets wet you will feel more comfortable and won't become hypothermic - great advice - I changed everything (yes everything) except my anorak and over trousers. This is why I was thankful I had removed my leggings earlier as they became my dry under layer. Today's photo shows clearly the first few arrivals - Christophe and Laurence from New Caledonia, Lou and Simone from Australia and John - steaming as they warmed up under the small heater! After lunch we early few wrested ourselves from the heater and followed Kelly down the hillside, Annabel was now the back marker. It was a steep but relatively easy descent albeit crossing a few of the raging waterfalls and walking along paths that were rivers was interesting! When Kelly said we had 1.5miles to go we thought we were there but that last bit seemed to take forever - but finally the welcoming Quentin Lodge came into view with its fast drying rooms including boot drying rooms. Our arrival time was 1330 - so plenty of time to relax......the last ones arrived back at 1800hours ( the latest this season has been 2330 and in recent times 0230! - but they now fly people off the mountain if they have missed time milestones which is very sensible as it puts the guides and the individual at risk if they are walking by torchlight.) The last hour or so of the walk saw the weather dry up and become very pleasant - so the day ended well - albeit it lashed down again during dinner.
We decided to get sorted out, have a shower and a cup of tea before contemplating the 90 minute round trip to Sutherland Falls ( the 19th century tourist attraction named after one of the track pioneers and one of the longest single drop waterfalls - not as long as the one in Guyana though.) This was the wrong plan - the white chocolate and raspberry muffins were great, the clothes were washed and nearly dry before others returned - we went with Leslie and Rosalyn (from Australia) which was nice BUT there were several stretches of quite deep water and I got all my boots wet - inside and out- and they now squelched which I had avoided all day. The walk was also moderately strenuous so I required another shower when we returned - we should have kept going after the first walk. The best views of the falls was from the bridge about ten minutes from the base but unknowing at that time we continued along the path to the base of the falls - where it was wet, windy and cold - caused by the force of the falls -consequently it only warranted a 10 second stay - max. Indeed it was this stretch which had the boot drenching water hazards - so double drat!
Having washed and dried everything a second time and then re showered we joined others for dinner and recollections of the day. Dinner was again lovely -breaded John Dory fish for me and steak for John.
The guides lightened dinner by serving us desert in fancy dress! Most of us retired early to rejuvenate tired limbs and contemplate our final days walk - just 13 miles to go.
With Sutherland Falls 3 mile round trip added to the uphill/downdale 9 miles of the McKinnon pass we did a total of 12 miles today....not bad!