After the Gillespie pass circuit, we headed to the West Coast, and then North to glacier country. Just South of Fox Glacier is the Copland Track… which has the wonderful Welcome Flats hot pools at the end of it.
It’s a nice enough walk up the valley to get to it. It’s funny, I remember the first time I did this walk thinking it was *amazing*… now I think it’s not so exciting – but the hot pools *do* make it worth the trip. Definitely. I think I’m just spoiled by so many other tramps :)
DOC operates a volunteer programme and we met this lovely man – Petia – walking in to take up his position as a volunteer for two weeks.
The man was an absolute horse – his pack had food for two weeks in it. I could hardly lift it – let alone walk with it for 7 hours. He caught up with *us* and kept with us most of the way, he said the company made it easier! Once we got to the hut he offered us a swig of his gin to say thanks. Gratefully accepted!
The next pic is Sjoerds – it’s of Heleen (his lovely partner) standing next to the hot pools.
They really are wonderful to soak in. And really really hot. I can think of worse places to be a volunteer for a couple of weeks!
Mike McKenny
February 1, 2012 at 10:37 am
There’s only one horse of a man in New Zealand; no, the entire Southern Hemisphere. And his name is called Patrick Davey..