Lake Ohau village and to the bottom of the lake,
I was privileged enough to not have to rush this morning, only hitting the trail by 9:30 after a slow start and hot breakfast one last time at the lodge. I had a great time at the lodge for many reasons, too hard to explain here and was grateful bumping into Lisa one last time to try and convey my appreciation. I don’t have an exceptionally long day ahead today, so everything was in order, back on the TA.
Sure it is a little frosty this morning, but it looks like the start of a beautiful day and the wind on the lake is calm. I picked up the trail next to the lake, and after a little bit of roadwalking, I was in Lake Ohau village and Lake Middleton. One of my plans was to camp here for the night, but it is too early in the day, so I decided to push on to the bottom of the lake.
Sitting down for lunch, it is noticeable how much this mountainous landscape here resemble the Craigieburns (without the lake) and more specifically Mt Cheeseman. To a certain extend, they seem very familiar and for a moment I feel very close to home.
Most of the TA route today is on the Alps to Ocean cycle trail, and I cannot help to think what a splendid trip down to the coast that might be as well with all the cyclists passing me by. I am most certainly coming back to Lake Ohau this winter for skiing, but for a brief moment I am contemplating coming back to do the Alps to Ocean as well. Hmmm, let’s not make any commitment just yet, but it sure might turn out to be a nice trip.
Soon I made it to the bottom of the lake were the Ohau river starts. It is 19km for the day, and just about halfway to Twizel, so I will stop and tent here for the night. The surroundings are quiet tonight and it feels good being back on the trail, getting a sense of the open space again and clearing my head.
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44.2860 – 169.9435
29 March 2024
FP-78