Lake Alabaster on the Hollyford track was our destination. A 15 mile hike through 'Middle Earth'.... a lush Beech forest, teaming in moisterladden vegitation, moss hanging from every tree and stump, an abundance of tree ferns, mushrooms, and lichens with rushing waterfalls, gurgaling streams, and playfull birds filling the air with sounds.
Lake Alabaster is pristeen and placide, reflecting the surrounding mountains. The hut was comfortable and we had it to our selves the firt night. The sun was out in full force the following day so we decided to stay by the lake and enjoy the cool waters and the hot sun. Unfortunatley Fiordlans is plauged with the sand fly, a small blood sucking fly who swarms any bit of skin left expsed for only a minutes time...bathing was tough and we had to stay in the hut a read for frea of being eaten alive by the flys...regardless it was an enjoyable day. In the afternoon 7 Kiwi hunters arrived by jet boat ( an amazing feat since they had to make it up the shallow river by dragging their boat through a strech of forest) who brought with them good food, beer, and rum, all of which they shared in excess. We spent the night getting drunk on their rum and trying to understand each other through talk of favorite movies (Platoon), music (Toby Keith), and politics...ours and theirs. It was a good time but the 15 mile hike out the next day was not nearly as easy as it had been on the way in :)
