KEPLER TRACK - HIKING IN HIGH WINDS - NEW ZEALAND (PART 2)

Luxmore hut → Iris Burn hut — estimated time 6 hours, 14.6 km

I had a pretty good rest in the sleeping bag, it was freezing outside though.

People were busy packing up or having breakfast to continue the journey.

We were not in a hurry, we could feel the chill and wind were blowing much stronger than yesterday, obviously, we were not the only one who was watching for the weather.

I heard that some groups intended to go up the summit and turn back to the car park.

We decided to stick to the plan and head to Iris Burn hut.

It was a gloomy morning.

Layers

We started to put on more layers, thermal vests, and pants, puffy jackets, rain jackets, gloves, hiking poles, we were all set.

You know as a person who was not fit, being well-prepared always gives me a lot of comfort.

After all, this is a walk in an alpine environment, lacking preparation despite your fitness level could be deadly.

The track was flat, however, the high winds made everything more challenging.

At first, it was windy but manageable.

Then, it got gusty as we were heading towards the track that led to Mt Luxmore.

Some hikers walked back from the summit and they warned us not to go up there as it was risky standing on the top in this condition.

Luckily, we already summited yesterday when everything was glorious.

Things escalated quickly as we passed the exposed ridgelines and cliffy edges.

We could hear the wind whistling and howling through the tussocks, it was a bit scary.

Sometimes, we had to stop and wait for the wind to get calmer and then continue.

I was thankful that my friend loaned me a hiking pole, it was a great tool as it helped me to keep balance during that chaos.

Despite the wind, we still enjoyed the stunning view over the South fiord of Lake Te Anau and the Murchison Mountains.

One part of the ridgeline was covered in a thick layer of snow, we had to watch our steps and follow each other closely as we walked along the ridge.

I was quite nervous but excited at the same time, this was exactly what I looked for — walking on the ice — done, check it off the list.

The whole areas are tussock-covered ridgelines.

As we stopped at Forest Burn shelter for a break, the gale continued, it felt like it would blow out the shelter — we waited for it to settle down.

Playing hide and seek with the sun

We tried to capture the moment as soon as the sun came out.

From this point forwards, it all about descending.

We all sighed and thought the hardest part was over.

The track led us through the beech forest straight to the hut, they say it takes about 1.5 hours, but it felt like ages, my toes were carrying all the weight, even though I did have a hiking pole.

It started to get throbbing, after a while, I was immune to the pain, it was like switching to walking mode, everything was in motion, I kept walking non-stop, you know like a robot, wondering when it was going to end — it was so frustrating.

Things got a little better when we stopped to admire the stream and take in the wilderness along the way.

Mother nature never fails me.

It really took us around 1.5 hours to arrive at Iris Burn hut. What a relief!

Iris Bun hut.

Down the valley, the hut sits in a tussock clearing with the surrounding beech forest.

Now, we officially left the top of the world.

This time I didn't care about the bed anymore.

The first thing I did was taking my shoes off to check my poor little toes — they must be desperate to escape LOL.

After lunch and a short rest, we were ready to explore the surrounding areas.

Beware of sandflies, they are common in the valley, especially during the warmer months and there is a nearby waterfall.

Cover yourself up as much as possible, my friend also put on insect repellent to avoid it.

Trust me, you do not want them to "eat you up" and ruin the fun, it is quite the hut "specialty".

Iris Burn Waterfalls — let's take a dip.

About 20 minutes walk from the hut, you can find a small but lovely waterfall.

Everyone was thrilled to see the waterfall.

Nothing was more refreshing than a dip in the water after a long day.

It was fricking freezing, even though it was already October (Springtime in NZ).

My feet were getting much better after soaking up in the cold water.

Iris Burn Hut is a big one which has 50 bunks, the campsite is not too far from the hut and there is plenty of room.

Many groups decided to pitch their tents and ready for a bonfire night.

Exhausted after all the downhill walking, I called it an early day and skipped the bonfire.

Have you been here? Let me know in the comment.

To be continued...

This is part 2 of my first and only Great walk in New Zealand, check out part 1 HERE