After the now normal routine of sandwich making, breakfast and booting up we again were one of the first starters setting off on our final 13 miles just before 0730. I was a little miffed as someone had moved my boots in the drying room and they were just as wet as when I left them....however spotting this before breakfast meant 20 minutes in the hot air enabled at least the tops to feel dry and comfortable! As we walked along the path,it was cool and cloudy but...

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 guide...

We were up before the generator was on - it was easily light enough to see - and the view outside to the Clinton River and cloud draped mountains beyond was, despite the drizzle, inspiring! We were the first into make our sandwiches, have a cup of tea and await breakfast, we were soon to be followed by an Australian couple - Lesley, who was celebrating her up coming 60th birthday and husband Dennis, a larger than life character, who became known to all, especiall...

I awoke around 3am and then had a fitful sleep until 5.30 - when the alarm, set by a previous inhabitant of the room went off -the alarm on my phone had been set for 6.15 and had now been made redundant. John made tea while I opened the curtains to see we had had rain overnight and the clouds were lying over the hills - the lovely sunshine of yesterday had gone. I have been addicted to the 5 day forecast for Milford - which seems to change daily - I think our one...

Breakfast at 8am so we could leave by 8.45 to travel the 280 kms to Queenstown - the roads were scenic but twisty so the journey wasn't fast; we finally got to the Remarkables shopping centre in Frankton for coffee at 12.45pm. Next stop was the hotel - thankfully they let us check in even though it was 1330. We quickly sorted ourselves out and got back into the car driving the 6 kms into Queenstown for some last minute shopping and our Ultimate Hikes briefing for...