{"id":5139,"date":"2024-03-05T22:34:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-05T09:34:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myblogary.com\/?p=5139"},"modified":"2024-03-16T22:46:16","modified_gmt":"2024-03-16T09:46:16","slug":"the-climb-milford-track-day-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myblogary.com\/index.php\/2024\/03\/05\/the-climb-milford-track-day-3\/","title":{"rendered":"The Climb (Milford Track, Day 3)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

March 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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At last night\u2019s briefing, the guides shared that this 9 mile day up McKinnon Pass<\/a> from Pompolona Lodge<\/a> to Quintin Lodge<\/a> would be a challenge. It could take up to nine hours or more to reach our destination. The weather report called for snow, wind and more rain, especially at the summit. They cautioned us to take our time as it was a 2,100 ft elevation gain from the lodge and a much steeper descent at 2,700 ft with poor trails and rocky conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We departed at the crack of dawn. It was just 7:30 a.m. when we left the lodge. It was spitting rain, windy and cold as we zigzagged up the mountain to Lake Mintaro<\/a> at the head of the Clinton Valley.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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We stopped for morning tea at a shelter and then continued our climb. It felt like a Superman Stair-master workout that had no end. We were redefining our calves and quads as they burned with every step. And it was raining and hailing, again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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