Returned from our day's 'work' about an hour ago sore, tired and satisfied. This was billed as the hardest hike of the trip and it lived up to it. We left The Wilderness Lodge at about 8.30, drove no more than 10 minutes to a trail head and lit out for the Bealey Spur. The entire hike was just under 10 miles (rooted and rocky footing…some of the most miserable I've ever encountered) and had just under 3000' of vertical ascent. There was an intermediate stop at a shepherd's hut, 7.6 miles into it and about half of the group opted to call it a day, have lunch and return to the lodge. The rest of us took a breather and set out for the summit. Here's the group at the cairn….
Cindy, our leader is third from the left. She's terrific. Has scars on both knees (one ACL apiece) and told us that if she didn't use two poles during the descent she'd be ruined for the week. After making the descent I think I'm ruined for the week! Holy smokes! Grueling is the only way to describe it. Here I'm standing at summit with our first glacier in the background. 
Note the 'braided' river drawing much of its water from the glacier. The mountains are young and dramatic. This is just before we started the descent. I wasn't smiling when I got to the bottom…………………
Last night I woke about 3am. I'd just drawn a light curtain and I could see something shining through it. When I pulled the curtain to see what it was I was knocked out by what I discovered. It was Mars. It was crystal clear and I've never seen so many stars or seen the heavens so bright. Spectacular.
Tomorrow we begin our trek to the Tasman Sea.
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