Try to Look Intimidating

The last few days have been awesome. I am about a month in and in the sweet spot for thru hiking. I’ve shed some pounds hiking about twenty five miles a day and living on ramen noodles and Sour Patch Kids. The pack is dialed in and we are hiking in a really remote section in the middle of the North Island. I left the Riverside campsite early to catch the sunrise and headed up a steep climb to the top of Pirongia Mountain. My legs and feet are feeling great and the mud is starting to dry up after a week of sunshine. We are cruising along and having a blast on the trails.

After a great climb down from the mountain, we crashed at Jo’s Funny Farm. Jo has been running her trail Angel campsite for the past ten years and hosted hundreds of hikers from around the world. For $30 NZD (about $18 USD), you get a tent site, shower and a huge home cooked dinner and breakfast. Her dog Pip is the official manager and she runs down to the gate to meet you with slobbery kisses and then shows you around to the pig sty, the chicken coop and the duck pond. She loves all of the hikers coming and going and makes herself at home in your tent. It was great to get a little dog therapy and some real food. We set off the next day for a great long hike through jungle forests, farm roads and beautiful green pastures. The pastures have changed from hosting sheep to cattle and the trail often goes right through open pasture land with signs inviting you to “interact” with the animals.

The official TA trail notes on open pasture land has a few pointers in case you encounter bulls. The advice goes like this – don’t wear anything bright and look intimidating. Great. I have a red backpack and five feet eleven inches on a good day. I was hiking on a forest service road today and came around a sharp turn to stare down six big bills that were not happy to see me. The bull in charge herded the others up the hill and then turned towards me and made a few menacing moves. I turned towards it and tried to stand tall while I backed up away from him to hide my bright backpack. I don’t think I quite pulled off being intimidating but he let me go down trail.

I hiked fast today into Waitomo and treated myself to a real bed in a bunk space at the hostel. The season is in full force here and it is packed with mountain bikers, climbers and hikers. We are headed out early tomorrow for a resupply in the next town and then into a long stretch until the next opportunity for food. I’ll miss this light pack I’ve enjoyed for the last two days for sure but I feel strong enough now for it.