Arthur's Pass

Hi!!!!
We left this morning for Arthur's Pass and beyond. The drive takes you through the mountains and along the river system. The terrain is expansive here--wide open spaces in a subalpine and alpine region. The mountains opened up to a huge valley--a long, wide, living, dynamic canvas of nature. There were miles of indigo lupine against chartreuse new grass, outlined by white grey gravel bars and reaches and threaded through with blue gray clear glacial streams forming the immense braided system of the Waimakariri River and the many streams and rivers that feed into it. I cannot describe it beyond that except to say: Awesome! We then hiked straight up (that is STRAIGHT UP) to Devil's Punchbowl waterfall which is one of the most powerful falls that I have ever seen. We then followed that with a hike into the Otira Valley toward Mt Rolleston. The path is all loose rock and boulders steadily climbing up and over a number of mountain streams, waterfalls and rock fields caused by avalanches and earthquakes. It was short in distance, but extremely tiring because of the terrain and the amount of focus needed to stay on the path without falling into a crevasse or spraining your ankle. We were a bit tired after that and so headed into the village for a flat white (yummmmmmmm) and then onto another drive and teeny weeny hike before coming back to create a tasty little dinner. Risotto with tons of veges, salad and a bottle of Marlborough region Sav Blanc. I have a nice little buzz and am watching the sun go down and the horses running in the fields. Tomorrow we do a day long hike. Oh, and I forgot. We are staying in a station that is at the base of the Torlesse Range. I have never seen formations like this--the peaks look like giant caramel fudge sundaes. The rocks are a caramel, dark brown, tan and grey color--all swirled together. You'll have to see the photos--they really are incredibly unusual. Love to you all, Linny