Day 2 Routeburn Track: Lake Mackenzie Lodge to Routeburn Falls Lodge.
None of my photos show the true slope of the terrain we’ve been walking through. You can see at the start of the day we are down by a lake or river and by lunchtime we are far far above it.
Walked up rocky “steps” and steep switchbacks for an hour. Then came upon stunning Ocean Peak viewpoint with fabulous views right down to the river below and across to the surrounding mountains and snow covered peaks.
Morning tea amongst the peaks. We were not helicoptered up here - we started down there at the level of the river and slogged all the way up!
Easy walking along narrow paths with steep drop offs for the next few hours around to Harris Saddle Shelter. Lovely, sunny weather so walking on a thermal tshirt.
Lunch at Harris Saddle Shelter with flushing toilets and hot tea, coffee, milo or miso. Some people (Deb included) decided to do the 2 hour round trip to Conicle Hill.
The rest of us enjoyed a leisurely lunch in the sun on the wide decks of the shelter and ambled along fairly easy tracks (unless you hate downhills) with a a fair amount od downhill including rock “stairs”. If it hadn’t been for the first hour it would have been a perfect walk.
Dinner was wonderful mushroom soup to start, rack of lamb and vegetables (or Salmon) for main followed by chocolate ganache slice - the GF version was lovely - for dessert.
