SAFA Skysailor Magazine

23 May | June 2024 SKY SAILOR passing the last hut, Fern Burn, much of the walk was promised to be down the river amongst beech forest. It sounds great, but I had to navigate a tangle of roots, over, around, under fallen trees… nothing in NZ is easy. Finally, I made it. The most challenging hike I’ve ever attempted, I’m sure I’ll appreciate it when I recover. I read it was 3.2km of elevation over its length and I think I felt every metre. I met some of the hikers I’d passed the other way retrieving their vehicles and was offered a lift back to Wanaka. Yay! Some things in NZ are easy, hitch-hiking was mostly great. From Wanaka I walked maybe 50m, then got a ride to the Arrowtown turn, walked 100m for a ride to Queenstown, then five minutes wait for the bus to Arthurs Point, a quick walk to Coronet Peak Road where another pilot had seen me and waited to give me a ride to the lodge door! Back at Coronet A few days of rest later, I was back up top with a small group, including Ben, the crazy Frenchman Charles, and a few other won- derful pilots I’d met along the way. They were again planning big – a 200km triangle! I wasn’t convinced this was the day, but what the hell do I know? They were going for it, so I tagged along as much as I could. Ben got away early, flying fast. I spent time with various others along the way, each having their ups and downs. I finally got to Lochnegar, one on my to do list – a mirror today and absolutely gorgeous! The others continued through, I hesitantly followed to other side: Ice capped scree slopes either side of a narrow valley. I hadn’t prepared myself well enough for the intimidation of the terrain. Heading into totally unfamiliar territory with no idea which way to safety I decided to turn. Following someone is trusting them, they could have totally different risk tolerances and it’s easy enough to get separated, so I decided to head for the pass towards the Matukituki, Rob Roy glacier and more familiar and safer territory. Both were on my to do list since the last time I was here when I was racing and didn’t spend enough time admiring it’s beauty! Two ticks off my bucket list today, pretty darn happy. Next challenge, fly home! I followed lines taken by Ben on previous days and I’d studied along the Mototapu, dreading the thought of not making it and having to walk out again. I was ecstatic to land in the flight park after a 106km triangle without having aimed for it. Ben congratulated me on a nice flight! He’d only made the valley up from Glenorchy. The others I’d followed did well and landed around Rocky Peak near Glendhu. By now I was look­ ing forward to the Wanaka Hike & Fly! Look for Part 2 in Skysailor July/August issue. All photos: Tim Marshall