The final hike of Alex’s and my honeymoon in New Zealand was to Brewster Hut. The hike was another New Zealand classic: relatively short, but strenuous. In less than 3 miles we gained 3,200’ of elevation over gnarly roots and steep ridges.

Mt. Aspiring, New Zealand, Backpacking TripsSonja SaxeMarch 21, 2019Comment

A Night at Mueller Hut in Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park

One of the places I was most excited to visit in New Zealand was Mueller Hut in Aoraki/Mt. Cook National Park. Like most of our experiences on the South Island, our overnight trip to Mueller Hut was affected by the weather. But this time, a weather delay actually worked in our favor!

New Zealand, Aoraki/Mount Cook, Backpacking TripsSonja SaxeMarch 19, 2019Comment

Rain on the Routeburn Track

When we touched down in Queenstown, New Zealand the weather was beautiful. Blues skies stretched for as far as the eye could see and there was nary a cloud in sight. This seemed to bode well for the trip we had planned for the next day: the Routeburn Track. However, the forecast told a different story.