Roy’s Peak
A million dollar view and only one way to get there. A 4hr walk, one way. Very steep. I had heard it was quite the hike but one that could not be missed. I had originally planned to miss it. I had a list of things I wanted to do on my road trip through New Zealand and I had a list of what I did not want to do, Roy’s Peak was the only thing on that list. It’s not that I have anything against walking up steep hills, it’s just that I don’t want to do it. But, alas, I did it. I showed up back in Wanaka after an epic adventure down in Bluff that you will read about in the coming weeks and showed up to the hostel my friends were staying at. I caught up with a friend and then was on my own. All day. I admit, I wasn’t expecting that. Everyone was off on their own adventures or were happy chilling. It was up to me to entertain myself. And I had done everything. And there was one must do activity staring me in the face. I strapped on my jandels, grabbed my purse and water bottle, jumped into my car and drove to the start of Roy’s Peak.
There I stood, at the bottom of this mountain. The sign said 4hrs up. I took a deep breath and knew I had all day. One step at a time. Everyone says it’s worth it and I was sure I’d be feeling like a boss when it was done. I began the track. As I walked up the gravel road with a pep in my step, sipping my water I came across sheep and birds and short cuts. I loved the short cuts. I cut through the grass and went vertically up. Easy, I was making good time. I had probably been walking half and hour and was getting puffed. I kept taking the short cuts with enthusiasm and I was beginning to feel the consequences. I had to take my first break and pour water over my head. My family chat was popping off at this point and I used it as an excuse to stop and get my breath back. After an hour of walking I looked up to see how far I had to go, the top was the size of my pinky nail. It was far.
I came across a group of guys coming down and they said “stay off the goat track.” This was the first time I’d heard that term used and I guessed they meant to avoid the short cuts I’d been taking. Maybe because they were tiring. When I got nearer the top I say there was this teeny tiny little gravel path on the very edge of a steep drop. That was probably what they meant. I think it only took me 3.5hrs to reach the top and you bet I was pleased when I did. That view was the best I have ever seen in my life.
