Well today mother nature made all the decisions for me. I woke up at what I thought was really late in the morning, only to find out that it was 8:00. But I was up, so I made a big brekky (eggs, tomato, cheese and a croissant) got everything in order and decided that I was still a bit tired so I was going to take a nap. Got back into bed and laid there for about 45 minutes only to be woken up by a buzzing mosquito...so time to get up.
I had decided to hike to Marian Lake and I took the leisurely drive down the highway, stopping at some of the lookout points along the way. The picture below was take at Mirror Lakes - it was a pretty fitting name.
Pulled off the highway and drove about a kilometer to the trail head. Since I didn't make lunch before hand and the hike to Marian Lake is 3 hours, I figured I should get something together. Here I am running around the van, opening and closing every door (at least 3 times each) and I finally have by peanut butter and honey tortilla, an apple, water, and my hiking gear. I turn around to head up the trail (as I'm parked directly beside it) only to read the sign that says Marian Lake trail CLOSED. Seriously? How did I not notice that sign the last 15 minutes I was getting ready? Well, there was a little bit of the walk you could do, so I did and managed to cross the swinging bride to see the white water rushing down the valley, but that was all mother nature allowed.
Again I find myself in a quandary not knowing exactly what to do and turned to my trusty old track map. I took a look at my options and realised that I had passed a walk up to the Key Summit about 10 kilometers back. As the author of my trail guide has described it as the "must see" hike on the way to Milford Sound, I figured that is where I should go.
The hike is approximately the same time return as the Brod Bay hike yesterday (again I have no idea how long it actually is - and might be a different distance as this one went straight up the mountain and Brod Bay was pretty level; and I have to assume that the average person walks these two types of hikes at different paces...but who knows).
Note: After doing a bit of research all I could find is that the Routeburn Track (of which the Key Summit follows part of it) is a total of 32 kilometers or a 3 day hike. If a person averages about 7 hours a day, that would mean that the Key Summit hike is about 5 kilometers (half the distance of Brod Bay). Yeah, I have no idea how far it is...
Personally, I thought the hike was intense...kind of like Mount Lofty (for those of you who have climbed Mount Lofty), but much longer and on an incline the entire time. But it was sure beautiful. There were small waterfalls cascading down the mountain (which you had to try and jump over to not get wet) and it made you feel as though you were in a rain forest. After awhile the climate changed and it was out of the forest and into the alpine (kind of similar to Colorado). At the top there was a 20 minute alpine nature walk, which included a laminated fact sheet. Ohhh information!!! I quickly grabbed one (as nature was calling me) and soon come to find out that there is a look out point to the none other than Marian Lake (YES!!!).
I take the trip to see the lake (again, not really my decision - nature was trying to show off its stuff). I trek all the way up (sign said 5 minutes return) just to see..........nothing. Literally, I couldn't see a thing. I even asked the nice ladies next to me if I was missing it, because that has happened before, but they confirmed what I had fist suspected. Well, I was up at the very top of the mountain with 360 degree views of Humboldt and Darran Mountains so I stopped and ate that lunch I packed so long ago (but to be honest I was getting really sick of peanut butter and honey tortillas - it was all I was eating for lunch every day).
Now back to finish the nature walk. I stop on this wood walking think to try and take my picture and low and behold - there she is!!! There is Lake Marian right over in the distance. I was so happy (I mean it looks like every other lake in the mountains - but bright, bright blue) but I had finally seen her. Somehow I didn't get a picture of it, so you'll just have to go there yourselves to see her.
Driving again - to a bed this time. There is only one place you can stay in Milford Sound - the Milford Sound Lodge - and I booked my accommodation so late there were no more caravan sites and I had to have a bed in a mixed dorm (but I was kind of excited to have a proper bed). I got to the lodge in the mid-afternoon and was excited to sit down, relax, shower (where I even shaved my legs just to feel that much better), and eat.
There was a shared kitchen at the lodge, which I used to cook my pasta (I think this is night 3 of eating pasta - which is quite alright by me), but I look around and almost everyone of us using the kitchen at that time is cooking pasta (we really should have discussed this before hand). Luckily mine was done before everyone else, which is mainly due to the fact I was cooking for one while the others were cooking for 4 to 13 people. Since I was out first, I thought I got a prime position on a picnic table outside. Five minutes later I was swarmed by sand flies and had no protection on my skin (I mean common' I just showered). So I ate as fast as I could and went to the van for some bug spray, but first a quick stop by my room.
Well, I probably shouldn't have stopped by my room. Turns out there were ear plugs on my bed, and the bed next to me, and the ones on the other side of the room...oh no. I mean it is very nice of them to be so kind and generous - but if you really want to be super kind here is my advice, "If you are a snorer, a known loud snorer, DON'T book a room in a shared dorm. Its just the nice thing to do."
Now I'm outside and makes you think that it is 4 o'clock in the afternoon; really its 9:30 which still blows my mind. I'm in a valley and there are four huge mountains around me.
When I came to Milford Sound I knew it was remote - but heck! There is literally a lodge a motel, one cafe and a bot transport centre. I went into the "city" upon my arrive, and found one thing to do...a 20 minute nature walk (which really only took 10 minutes, including a few stops for pictures). There were a lot of great views, but there is really NOTHING to do here unless you are on a boat (or for me tomorrow going on a kayaking trip).
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