Day 53. Christmas. December 25, 2015.

19.5 km
Nichols Hut km 1568 to Otaki Forks Campground km 1587.5

Good morning, Christmas.

Lots of sugar plums are dancing in these heads.

My Christmas gift was spectacular weather. The first climb was up Mt Crawford. I love it when you can see almost the whole climb right from the start. There was almost no wind. Not at all normal for the Tararuas. I stayed at the top for a long time watching the ever changing clouds.

Alex and Brett were able to call their mothers and wish them Merry Christmas.

The 2 French guys slept in and then hiked twice as fast as me to join us on top.

I was sweating most of the day. I expected to be freezing. I am not complaining.

Waitewaewae Hut is really nice. I tried to jump in the icy river but I could only get waist deep and then splashed my face. I thought about staying for the night. It was too early and the next hut was too far. More importantly this hut was low and in the trees so didn’t have views. I kept going.

When I got to Parawai hut 2 groups already were already there. One dog. One sick woman. Windows didn’t open. Alex, Helen and I moved to the campground.