Unpacking the Hunt- Part i

​We have finished the final river crossing. It was sketchy in spots- we had to be careful. The rocks had a thick slimy layer, forcing us to tread slower and link up. Now for the walk back to the road end. The going is now flat and easy. The worst we can do is get caught up in a gorse bush. Part of me wants to turn back around and do it all again. The other half wants to get to the road end and crack into a couple of well-earned beers. We get to the car, and I give the classic “yahoo” or “we made it”. The sun was shining that day, but the same can’t be said for our trip. It was a hard slog through some Manuka to a spot which took much longer than expected. We never made it- we swallowed our pride and turned back before we would be camping out halfway up the trail. That’s what both of us thought anyway. If your anything like me, you’re wondering what you would have done differently. For a start (the obvious) is don’t go back there.  That’s not always the case, but in ours it is. Too far of a walk to make it worthwhile for a valley with not great animal numbers. It’s always intriguing to research the area you’ve been in, however. Shorter trips are always good for the fitness, test out some new gear (or realize something is on its last legs). Ideas always flood through about what to change in terms of gear. Being a student means the finances are stretched, but I try update gear regularly. It adds to the interest. Regardless of the result, its great to get away from the real world and lose touch. The end goal is to get an animal (a shallow reason), but that’s the explanation at least. I’m forever still learning, and this is what adds to the whole enjoyment. When I get an idea of what to do in my head, it makes me eager to get back out there and test it, while hopefully improving myself. Unpacking my pack is my least favorite part of the hunt. Putting everything back to where I got it is less stimulating than packing up, anticipating a few days. I’ll likely leave it to the next day before I unpack, I’ll always head straight for the shower. Getting back is always a different sensation to anything other part of the hunt. It takes a while to adjust back, but it gives a different perspective on where I live. More importantly, it gives me a bigger reason to get back out there. 

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