Start – Pelorus Bridge Campground Finish – Middy Creek Hut
Daily Distance – 27 km
TA Distance – 1866 km
Day 1 on the Pelorus river trail and I have already developed the nervous temperament and paranoid
observational skills of a prey animal. The south island sandfly is the apex predator on this track and I’m
the fleshy equivalent of delivery pizza! This post is being written in a baking hot hut having been driven
inside by a hungry swarm of the little devils. They are so bad that swim time had to be aborted owing to
not being able to breathe without inhaling flies. Still, fly based snacks aside, the river track is very nice.
Relatively easy walking through the forest and never too far away from the clear waters of the Pelorus
river. Much credit for the easy walking must go to the teams of workers who have done a sterling job of
sawing and dragging fallen trees to the side of the track. Without their efforts there would have been a lot
more laborious clambering over fallen trees today. The fine weather and easy walking have meant that
I’ve managed to reach the next hut beyond the one I had originally planned to stay at. It’s only the
difference of a few hours walking, but given the uncertainty over how long the incoming storm will keep
me hut bound I’m keen to make ground while I can. The quicker I get through the ranges, the more I can
