9.05am: Things started well. Highish cloud & blue sky visible. Will push through today regardless. Mostly packed now but the weather has turned foul again. Just waiting for a break in the rain to finish off the packing and get going.
And I think that may have just happened...
Hit the quarry and took some photos of the area I came from the other day. Started the slog to the top of the actual Bald Hill. It started raining fairly early on the way up. Then, around 500m, the rain started to bounce in just that kinda way that rain doesn't bounce. The hail did stop around the 600m mark though. That's where it started to snow. The top was at 805m and the snow held up until I was almost there. Just as I got to the top the cloud cleared just enough to get a peak of Oreti Beach and Riverton. It was actually quite breath-taking. Standing at the top of Bald Hill with a steady constant light grey in every direction and this distant image of a beach coalesing out of nothing... The first words I'd actually said out loud in 2 days were "Oh, wow..."
Things cleared up for about half an hour and I had a fantastic view of Southland. Really need to get the gallery stuff set up. Took photos. Hopefully they came out okay.
The top of Bald Hill is a transmission tower area. Best (only) cell coverage in the last 5 days. Txt'd Mike to see if it was possible for a pick up once out. Need to reassess some of what I'm carrying. Also checked in with a bunch of others to let them know I wasn't dead yet.
Then the cloud came back in and the view disappeared. Started back down and entered the forest again. More of the moss covered trees and the coud cover was dense enough that if it'd been any darker it could have made a suitable setting for a horror scene involving giant spiders. The trail here needs to be remarked in a few places. There's at least 3 really large trees that have fallen right across the marked trail. The detour around isn't big but given how dense it gets in there it's probably worth mentioning.
The rest of the trip was uneventful. Got to Merryvale Road and met Mike and Katrina about half way down. So, back in Invercargill to rethink some kit.