Haast Pass
Our drive over Haast pass focused on frequent river dips because it was so hot. Including this secret river canyon, with ice cold water and perfect skipping rocks.
The Kepler Track
Hiking on the Kepler track was stunning. With undulating ridge lines, clouds rolling in and out, and fjords below. The great walk experience was fun, we laughed at the train of babbling ladies, and enjoyed the well maintained paths. Hut wardens were a mix of tour guide and baby sitter making sure you didn’t clog the flushing toilets or burn the cabins down.
The flora on the high ridges of the Kepler track was stunning in its colors and textures. The fauna were the mischievous Kea.
The Luxmore Caves!
Southeast Coast and the Catlins
In the Southeastern section of New Zealand, including The Catlins and Dunedin area, the cool breeze of the coast brought us some reprieve from the hot, buggy interior. Seals, exotic birds (especially penguins), and big round rocks were the main attraction. There are petrified forests, beautiful lighthouses, and ferns that are 20 feet tall!
Rees-Dart Track
Our tramp into the Rees Valley, over the Rees Saddle, and out the Dart Valley totaling over 40 miles in four days. The wicked views made the miles of knee deep mud and endless flats in the hot sun easy to forget. A New Zealand gem!
Raspberry Flat to French Ridge Hut
We spent our Christmas hanging out on top of the world in French Ridge Hut. We climbed on our hands and knees with our big packs on up five thousand feet.. The reward was being surrounded by mountains and glaciers and over 40 waterfalls. Keas-mountain parrots-abounded up in the high alpine, and were quite curious about everything shiny and smelly. We stayed the night at a little hut and bunked with a dozen snoring hikers…
Aoraki (Mt. Cook) and Alpine Lakes
Mt. Cook and the surrounding lakes-Tekapo, Pukaki, and Ohau-are incredibly colorful and magical. We went on many hikes up onto ridges, stayed in campsites inundated with every color of lupine, and awed at snowy peaks and super blue glacial lakes.
Cave Streams and Castle Hill
We walked through a cave with freezing water that was between ankle and chest deep! The only light was from our headlamps-mine (Jaydon’s) ran out of battery within 5 minutes of entering the cave.
Castle Hills - a very fun boulder gym to climb around on, and the set for The Chronicles of Narnia: the Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe!
NZ -Akaroa and Banks Peninsula
First trip out in the van
Birding Makayla’s favorite activity.
Some exciting geological formations!
Makayla’s amateur photography of a Sacred king fisher feeding its baby(s).
Post hike grilled sandwiches with some local cheese.
Waking up in a hidden bay all to ourselves.
Looking into the bay from a hike to the peninsula.
Wwoofing Kapoose Creek, BC
Misty boat ride out to the farm.
Landing and unloading the water taxi.
Reloading all the stuff into two trucks up the dock. Then another 45 mins drive to the farm.
Our housing on the left and the kitchen on the right with these beautiful gardens between.
Kitchen coop and goat playground.
Working hard trying to get the chickens to stay on Jaydon’s arm.
Carrot harvest!
Extra fun carrot!
A peak at the beach
Jaydon paddle boarding up Kapoose Creek.
The farm was a beautiful beach hike away from Rugged Point Provincial Park.
It was unreal the beaches were covered in sand dollars!
A Amanita mushroom we found on our hike with the mushroom scientist.
The boat ride back
Saying goodbye to beautiful sunsets and our time on the farm.
Bikepacking Vancouver Island
Bikepacking Vancouver Island!
Woss Lake, where we found out Canada has endless free camping!
Just after setting off on our bikes we crossed this beautiful river—what we suspect is Woss Falls.
Our first barrier—a broken down and blocked bridge brought the decision if we should hoist our bikes over the barricade or trek back up hill to take the hwy detour… we went via the bridge.
Jaydon’s rig. Niner RLT 9 Steel 2019 frame built up with Sram Rival 1 Drivetrain and Paul Klampers.
Makayla’s mighty steed. Jamis Renegade S4 2022 upgraded with Paul Klampers and hot pink bar tape.
Cockpit view. Never enough snacking!
Atluck Lake: Camp one brought us this tranquil lake that was hard not to be in awe of.
Atluck Lake—setting up camp
Showing signs of a morning dip on our second morning.
Atluck on a moody morning.
Scenery from day two, not pictured is steep grades with chunky boulders we had to walk up
Spontaneously found the most beautiful lake camp site just for us! Grateful our legs couldn’t take us any further to the main camp ground on our route.
Day three—we enjoyed our first views of an ocean inlet after stuffing ourselves full of sandwiches in town.
Rest day—enjoying cheese and crackers while lounging at the River; arguable our favorite thing to do.
Filled with energy after spending a day resting.
Last morning on trail friends