IN THE EARLY HOURS OF THE MORNING, GUIDED BY HEADLAMPS, WE FOUND OURSELVES MOOCHING UP ANOTHER WEST COAST BUSH TRACK WITH LADEN PACKS. IT WAS MID-MARCH AND PETE HAD SUGGESTED A WALKIN, PACKRAFT OUT TRIP UPRIVER FOR A QUICK OVERNIGHTER.
It wasn't a targeted trip as such but more a chance to catch up with Pete, who was now based in Wanaka, and an opportunity to tick up a few k's on the hoof to get in some pack fitness.
It was a bit early for roaring, but we knew there was still a chance of hearing the stags spark up here and there as they began to settle into their work for the rut. Furthermore, we knew there was a chance of a bull or a chamois buck mincing about down low, so we were quite happy to just take it as it came.
After a few hours of walking, daylight started to creep into the back of the clearings we were passing through, and the quiet bird song soon began to build. It's
