T-minus three weeks to the big day of flying (which reminds me, I still have to buy my ticket from Chicago to LAX). I've been thinking about the concrete things I want to do when I'm in NZed. One of the goals that I have (which is slightly unrealistic) is to do all 9 of New Zealand's "Great Walks". I've done one fully (Routeburn Track), and about a third of another (Abel Tasman), but I'm looking to actually get out of my sluggish American ways and go "tramping" (hiking) while I'm there.
Considering I don't even have the energy to walk by dog, Fletcher (pictured above), four blocks right now, and I have consistently been gorging on my sister's cooking (shrimp enchiladas, anyone?) I'm thinking this will go really well. I'm incredibly prepared. I've got my sleeping bag. And... that's about it.
This website has an actual map of the hikes, and will tell you more than I can at this point. Too bad I'm too computer illiterate to get it onto this blog.
http://www.newzealand.com/travel/about-nz/features/great-walks/great-walks_home.cfm
This is a picture of my father and I on the Routeburn Track when my parents came to visit. Notice my lack of appropriate footwear, and how I appear to be leaning against a hanging bridge, this bodes really well for my future hikes.
