It was rainy when we got out of the forest and out from under the cover of the trees. Cold again too. When we got to the van, the guy with all the stuff on his bike had just made it up the hill. He was soaked. Once we stood there for a few minutes, we noticed we were getting bit by the sandflies for the first time. Bug spray wasn’t on the packing list (Karsten – if you’re reading this, I forgot to put that on my feedback form!) and you needed it. We had to keep the van door closed, because they would quickly swarm in there. Catherine was generous with her remaining bug spray though and I didn’t get bitten too badly. Turns out they are different from mosquitos – they bite, and leave a little hole or mark, and it stings, but they don’t hang around and suck on you. The itching never gets anywhere near as bad as mosquitoes do for me though, so I’ll take these guys over them. It’s still a bit annoying though.
The ride was a steep downhill wet ride – gave it a miss. Still not riding downhills where there are runaway truck ramps. The cattle stops didn’t look fun either, so while I was driving down with Jenny I was happy to be in the van. Later in the trip, Karsten told a story of a woman who came down it, rode her brakes so long they locked up and she did a header into the rock face. Had to be helicoptered out of Haast and to a hospital up the coast with some pretty serious injuries, although nothing too horrendous because she was wearing a helmet. After I heard that I was really glad I didn’t go. That being said, everyone else came down alive.
At the base of this hill is a bridge and this huge waterfall/rapid over giant boulders, called the Gates of Haast. I roamed around the banks watching and listening to the huge quantities of rushing water. One of boulders looked sort of like a certain mask I’ve seen – maybe African in style? Anyway – they were tremendous and the water, though strong and voluminous, had some serious obstacles to get around. I have a picture with Catherine in it that gives a better sense of scale, but I couldn’t get the whole rock in it – and I think this boulder is sort of the centerpiece of the place.
I was able to get pictures of everyone coming over the bridge. Helen came down behind everyone else, and almost rode right by the van she was so focused on not crashing! We got her attention. At this point, all the warmth from hike had completely worn off and everyone was cold and wet again, so it was back in the van for the ride down to Haast, with one more quick stop.