Mt Sunday and Sharplin Falls

Hi all,
This morning we drove on many gravel roads to get to the base of Mt Sunday (part of the Harper Range)--we were well rewarded. As we approached the final rise in the road it opened up to a spectacular view of a glacial range with water flowing to the valley floor--the scale of it is indescribable. We made our way to the valley and began to hike toward a rock formation. There were a number of streams to ford to get there and Joel was willing to do it, and I was not (didn't want to take my boots off and on). So I spent my time walking along the creeks and streams. This water is the first glacial water to come down from the range and forms an intricate braided system of crystal clear creeks and streams that eventually form the Ashburton River and also drains into the Rangitata River. After that we drove to the base of Mt Somers in the Black Hill Range to take a hike to Sharplin Falls. The path begins in farmland and quickly enters into a mountain beech forest lush with ferns, moss, lichen, and a thousand species of green "everything". The first foot bridge is over a deep clear and pure pool of water that is part of a rushing stream that originates at the falls. The water tumbles over and between boulders the size of a VW bug and then forms a pool with each descent and continues on pool after pool. The path climbs steeply 1000 ft and then descends back down and then you get to do it in reverse. The granite walls rise straight up from the water and are the color of wine. It was very warm and a little humid and so lush it was very much like Hawaii. As in so many places in NZ, the water is so pure, so clean, so clear that you really want to drink it, swim in it . . .and tomorrow another hike. xo