Bealy Spur Hike

Happy Christmas Eve to you all!
Addendum to my last post: I was so busy telling you about how difficult the hike was into the Otira Valley that I forgot to tell you all the wonderful things. The valley and mountainsides were covered in Mt Cook Lillies (ranuncula family). They are white, many petaled and with a golden center. The leaves are similar in appearance, texture and size to a lily pad. The mountain daisies were also in bloom: white daisies on long stems that are based in silver green swordlike foliage. The edelweiss was in bloom and the manuka was in bloom--both white. No other flower colors but white! The foliage was rust and green and brown and there was a roaring green blue river at the bottom that cascaded over and over huge boulders. (That is where we had our lunch.) Also . . .
Two Dutch women, aged early 60s, or old enough to no better, were staying at the hostel. Yesterday morning they were heading out to mountain bike without helmets and without maps. Their warm weather clothing consisted of purple wool city blazers. We were a little concerned and asked them about their gear. They, however, were quite confident and insisted they didn't need helmets--afterall, they don't wear them in Holland. When it got to be dark last night, I noticed that they had not returned for the day. I made Joel go up to the lodge and ask if they had returned the bikes. The staff informed us that they had sent out a search party two hours prior. Long story short, they were finally found. They had attempted to ford a fast moving river, with bikes!!!! The water was chest high before the knuckle heads figured out that it was muy dangerous. They attempted to cross another two rivers. They did not have head lanterns or warm clothing. They were exhausted and damn lucky to be alive. Sheesh!!!
Okay, back to us. This morning we left for a very long hike. We hiked for six hours straight--the first three climbing to 400 mtrs (approx. 1200 ft). The first hour was through beautiful beech forest with red flowering mistletoe on the tops fo the trees. Shaded and cushioned by moss and billions of beech leaves. The rest of the hike was through sun exposed manuka dwarf forest and tussock grass. The path was primarily dry streambeds--rocks and small boulders. The going was tiring. The views from there were spectacular--the entire Waimakariri Valley and all the surrounding mountains. But that last stretch caused me to think about why I like hiking. We got to the Bealy Top Hut after three hours and had a quick lunch and headed back down. Yes, through the rock again. Our knees and feet were just screaming. We were ecstatic when we reached the shaded comfort of the beech forest--the last mile was a killer. We drove straight to the next lodge and each had a pint of cold, cold beer. Tomorrow we will hike through Castle Hill and fish in the afternoon/evening. We will probably check out early (the day after Christmas--or Boxing Day as they call it here). We have no idea where we are going. We may head to the West coast and work our way up to the Pancake Rocks and then cut back east through the Lewis Pass. We are winding down here and trying to figure out how we want to end this magical trip. Merry Christmas everyone. Much love, Linny