Up the Ben Lomond Trail - Night 95

After a bit of running around town I finally managed to come up with a map of local day hikes to be done. My preference was to get high up into The Remarkables, the eponymous, craggy range across the lake from town; however, I was informed by the guides at both track transport places that they don’t do summer runs to those locations and I would have to hitch a ride with some climbers. I rated the possibility of this happening fairly low so I settled for an assault on Ben Lomond peak directly above Queenstown. The trail switchbacked through the thick pine forest to a point just above the Luge Park and Gondola lookout. From here on out it emerged from the tree into a

Climbing on the Ben Lomond Trail

sort of scrub-brush, typical fauna for an area above the treeline. Offering great views of the Ben Lomond peak, the trail followed the ridge straight to the main saddle. Thankfully it was a cloudy day, or the sun would have been vicious. I reached the Saddle in good time and was fully prepared for an attempt at the 5,400 foot peak (Queenstown sits at just over 1,200 feet elevation) but the weather had other ideas. Just as I set foot onto the peak trail it began to rain. Fearing an absolute downpour on the ridge to the summit, I turned back down the mountain. I met an elderly trio decked out in rain gear who looked exhausted but were determined to make it to the saddle regardless of weather.

On the way down I took a detour on an auxiliary trail that followed the precipe hanging out over the city, giving way to some fantastic views. By this time the rain had relented so I stop for a quick lunch. I continued down through the hang-gliding launch, the Luge Track and the amazingly modern, glass and steel visitor’s center located at the terminus of the gondola. Complete with café and gift shop, I finally found a decent Aotearoa stocking hat for less than $40.

Later in the afternoon on of the guys in my

High Above Queenstown

room, David, and I went down to the Rugby field to catch some of the 7 on 7 action. Regular rugby is played with 15 players, so this was a ‘sprint’ version. Ten minutes halves and the spread out field meant a much faster-paced game and a surprising amount of scoring. Luckily David was British so I had someone to explain the rules and strategies to me. A few more games and I think I’ll have mastered the art of watching rugby (as I am already a prolific beer drinker and sports critic, two of the most important qualities of any rugby fan). I caught a movie, I Am Legend, in the evening. On the way home there was a crazy street performer juggling flaming batons, balancing on an elevated board of nails and begging for money all at the same time. While other rich tourist types filled his collection bag with $5 and $10 notes, he got nothing from me but a round of applause and a smile.

What I Learned Today: Don’t forget your damned rain coat on a hike, for if you do, no matter what the forecast it will certainly rain.

7 on 7 Rugby Action

Up the Ben Lomond Trail - Night 95

Te Anau, New Zealand