{"id":454,"date":"2026-01-30T09:02:31","date_gmt":"2026-01-30T09:02:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/?p=454"},"modified":"2026-02-02T09:08:50","modified_gmt":"2026-02-02T09:08:50","slug":"day-31-across-the-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/2026\/01\/30\/day-31-across-the-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Day 31, Across the river"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>January 30, 2026<br \/>Lake Middleton to Ahuriri River<br \/>TA km marker 2527.5 to 2555.7<br \/>Hiked today: 28.2 km<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From our campsite by the lake we were shaded from the morning sun but were woken by cattle across the lake as well as geese on the water. We headed off around 7 am and followed a path beside the lake before our trail took us off beside farmland and made a gradual ascent into rolling hills. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08124718067131676999350638-1024x472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08124718067131676999350638-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08124718067131676999350638-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08124718067131676999350638-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08124718067131676999350638-1536x708.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08124718067131676999350638.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Lake Ohau<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Very soon we merged with the Alps to Ocean bike trail which we had also followed around Lake Ohau yesterday. For a short stint through pretty forest, our track was wide, flat and clear of debris. Then we left the lovely bike path and almost immediately were sloshing through mud and up rocky paths running with water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"576\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08394714856505877924643228-576x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08394714856505877924643228-576x1024.jpg 576w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08394714856505877924643228-169x300.jpg 169w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08394714856505877924643228-768x1366.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08394714856505877924643228-864x1536.jpg 864w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08394714856505877924643228.jpg 1102w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 576px) 100vw, 576px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1016\" height=\"662\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08402411407471285176508689.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-458\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08402411407471285176508689.jpg 1016w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08402411407471285176508689-300x195.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_08402411407471285176508689-768x500.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1016px) 100vw, 1016px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Overall, though, the climb was reasonably gentle and once over the saddle we had lovely views as we wound around scree slopes and then long stretches of easy walking through grassy meadows. We had lunch along the way with Marty from N Germany, and 3 other young hikers who are all going at a faster pace than us, but happy to chat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11023019047075521388647921-1024x472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-459\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11023019047075521388647921-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11023019047075521388647921-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11023019047075521388647921-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11023019047075521388647921-1536x708.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11023019047075521388647921.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"564\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11263215884317631897627372-564x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-461\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11263215884317631897627372-564x1024.jpg 564w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11263215884317631897627372-165x300.jpg 165w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_11263215884317631897627372.jpg 738w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 564px) 100vw, 564px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_13222112936005788970539146-1024x472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-460\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_13222112936005788970539146-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_13222112936005788970539146-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_13222112936005788970539146-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_13222112936005788970539146-1536x708.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_13222112936005788970539146.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_14134515482780770558822843-1024x472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-462\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_14134515482780770558822843-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_14134515482780770558822843-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_14134515482780770558822843-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_14134515482780770558822843-1536x708.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_14134515482780770558822843.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Our aim today was to cross the Ahuriri River which is about 30m across. We wanted to camp on the other side to be well set up for tomorrow&#8217;s big ascent. As we neared the river, we passed through a lot of muddy marshland, and I made a leap across a mud puddle that ended in a slide and then an unintended sit down in the mud. Not comfortable for walking, and not a good look for my light coloured hiking pants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"546\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16120116157313083053543954-546x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-464\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16120116157313083053543954-546x1024.jpg 546w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16120116157313083053543954-160x300.jpg 160w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16120116157313083053543954.jpg 738w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 546px) 100vw, 546px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Approaching the Ahuriri river<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205-1024x472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-466\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205-1536x708.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Marty very kindly carried my pack across the river and Rob and I linked arms to make it safely across. As it turned out, the water wasn&#8217;t too deep or too fast flowing. After setting up the tent, I washed the pants and we set them and our socks and shoes out to dry. It is hot, and the sun sets late, so there is a good chance we will at least start tomorrow with dry clothes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"398\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16393916181992615236518108-1024x398.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-463\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16393916181992615236518108-1024x398.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16393916181992615236518108-300x117.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16393916181992615236518108-768x299.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16393916181992615236518108-1536x597.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16393916181992615236518108.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"472\" src=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_18132214282070829244026738-1024x472.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_18132214282070829244026738-1024x472.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_18132214282070829244026738-300x138.jpg 300w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_18132214282070829244026738-768x354.jpg 768w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_18132214282070829244026738-1536x708.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_18132214282070829244026738.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"January 30, 2026Lake Middleton to Ahuriri RiverTA km marker 2527.5 to 2555.7Hiked today: 28.2 km From our campsite by the lake we were shaded from the morning sun but were woken by cattle across the lake as well as geese on the water. We headed off around 7 am and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":466,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-454","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/02\/20260130_16124417123878532943049205.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=454"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":470,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/454\/revisions\/470"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/466"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=454"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=454"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/loudonweb.com\/ta\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=454"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}