New Zealand....

Great pics/story! I've got those same boots, hope they don't disintegrate on me.
 
Yes mate, I was very disappointed. I still have a new in box pair here and have been thinking of selling them. I did however get such great use out of my first pair that I am still a bit reluctant. I am looking at some of the Lowa boots as replacements too. In the mean time I got out my old Danners and started wearing them to work to loosen them back up.
 
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It would have to have a great rack before I shot anything down in one of these holes. That's some steep country!
 
So I finally have some time on my hands..!!!!

We stayed up there on the ridge till the evening rolled in hoping Bambi may come out to grab some later afternoon sun, unfortunately there was no such, just looming dark clouds, and no Bambi. We walked back down off the ridge in the last light and the start of some light rain….that got a little heavier….then some wind…and some heavier rain…. so we scurried back got dinner our of the way and settled into the bivy for the weather to pass…yay.

Now the bivy is OK, watertight (except when the door is open) and clean…yep, but with no cover at the front getting in and out in the rain is a bit of a pain…but it was only going to be overnight….riiiiight….

This was pretty much my view of the world for the next 36hrs…..



We even cooked a little in there as needed…



And I became the “weatherman” providing regular and ondemand weather updates….generally along the lines of Him “how’s it look mate ?”….me (pushing the window open)…. “errrrrrr yep farging raining still”…

The window (and my well travelled Busse Skeleton Key)…



So in that time I had ½ of the December 16 issues of The Hawkes Bay News (newspaper), a copy of Backwoodsman Magazine and a copy of NZ Hunting….we exchanged these regularly and read each several times… I do think I got a little stir crazy… ;)

Going into the later part of the following day we both needed to venture out and stretch the legs (pee breaks had been it till that point)…

Yep…raining…



Yep…not so happy about it…



An exercise in wet weather fire making…



Come hell or high water we had to walk back the following morning (Thursday) as our chopper was scheduled to pluck us out around 1100hrs Friday.

So in still light rain, cloud and a bloody cold wind we set back off up the ridge to make our way back to the other valley…I have to say I thought it was gorgeous up through there though…. !!



And my load dumped on a stump to facilitate taking the pic above…

 
After several hour walking we were back at the main hut, gear was hung up to dry, dragged out my sleeping bag again (looking forward to a night that didn’t see a rigmarole involved if I needed to step outside) the fire was lit (quite cold and miserable) and then I went and stood in that freezing creek as it made my aching feet and legs feel great !!!

I then tried to snap a couple of pics of Casey’s Red Eyed Hog Seasoning that had improved several meals and my attitude…



…and while doing so the sensor on my camera started having a fit…it is still unserviceable and after some tinkering I found it was only able to take a half decent picture in “auto” mode, I generally work in manual.

It was just gone lunch and the mate was putting himself to bed for a nap and I was still playing with the camera when I heard what I thought was a helicopter…..and then our ride appeared out of the clouds and sat at idle on the LZ down the creek.

I went down and spoke quickly with Chris across the creek (thinking we had somehow screwed up our pickup) and it was basically that he had flown in on spec as he could and we had about 15mins to get packed and get back in the air. If he didn’t get us out then we may be there for several more days as a large weather front was moving in (as OK with this as I would be it would mean missing our flight back to Aus). So them there was a FRANTIC dressing and packing routine undertaken…and we got in the air !!! I actually can’t believe we didn’t (unintentionally) leave anything behind !!

And to close a few pics I snapped on the flight out…













And then we were back….that rapid pack and rush out made being back at the hanger where we started VERY surreal…!!!!
 
That landscape is extraordinary. I'm sure you didn't want to leave, but at the same time wanted nothing more than to get away from the rain.

It must have been a real head spin to go from a place like that back to civilization in a few minutes unexpectedly. Back when I used to spend a few weeks in the bush at a time and then drive back to the city I'd get what I can only describe as culture shock. Different worlds.

Are you planning to go back?
 
That is exactly what happened mate, over the next couple of days I think we were both a bit out of sorts, I was not even close to wanting to leave the bush, rain and all was fine with me. And yes, certainly going back. We are already looking at the same week or a week earlier next year.... ;)
 
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Andy, Thanks for the awesome view of the trip as always it is a pleasure to read, both exciting and relaxing!!
 
Thanks mate ! I collect a copy of all the pics my mate took late next week (I am going bush for a week again :D :D ) so there may be some more pics out of those.
 
Thank you Andy for both the photos and story to go with the pics! :thumbup:
I am sorry you had so much bad weather; hopefully next time will be much better. There have been a couple of times that I was out in nature when it rained, and those times turned out to be some of my more memorable ones (memorable in a good way :)).
 
Mate, I LOVE the rain, I love being in the bush when it rains (if properly equipped ;) ), but the deer don't like coming out when it is tumbling down. There is really not much I would want to change about the trip (other than more deer ;) ). Such good times are the totality of the experience, including the parts where your lungs and legs have filed for divorce :D :D
 
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Excellent Wrap Up and Pics as always Andy!!! Glad you found even the most difficult parts of the trip rewarding in some way. Good On Ya!!!

THANKS AGAIN for taking us along!!!:thumbup::thumbup::thumbup:
 
Andy the Aussie said:
Mate, I LOVE the rain, I love being in the bush when it rains (if properly equipped ;) ), but the deer don't like coming out when it is tumbling down. There is really not much I would want to change about the trip (other than more deer ;) ). Such good times are the totality of the experience, including the parts where your lungs and legs have filed for divorce :D :D
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I recon if you walk half way to work in prep for next year's trip you should be fine Andy...
 
I can ALMOST make it there staying in the bush if I put my mind to it mate !! May need a canoe for the last couple of sections though... ;)
 
Wow! What an amazing trip! Thank you so much for sharing Andy! I look forward to your hunting trip photos every time you mention an upcoming trip.
 
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