Day 27 – Queenstown, New Zealand – 9:37 PM

There is one photograph from today that not only summarizes my hike along the Ben Lomond Track but also explains every decision I have made in the last ten months.

My goal in resigning from my job, leaving my family and friends, and traveling the world for twelve months was to experience different landscapes, cultures and individuals.  The scene laid out in the photograph above is only a snapshot from a six hour hike along the Ben Lomond Trail.  A six hour hike that caused me to pause at numerous points to take in the scenery that stretched to the horizon.  A six hour hike that forced me for the first time since arriving in New Zealand to pause and say to myself, “this is why I’m traveling, this is the reason behind all my decisions over the recent months.”

In the seventeen days since arriving in New Zealand, I have met inspiring people from across the globe, stared in awe at the landscapes before me, and successfully navigated public transportation systems in a foreign country.  But, it was not until todays hike that I was pushed to my limits and felt a great sense of satisfaction upon reaching the summit of Ben Lomond.  While only six miles from my motel room, I gained over 5,100 feet of elevation while navigating the trail without the assistance of a guide.  It was my responsibility alone to ensure I had proper gear, legible trail maps and enough food and water to get me to the summit and back to my room.  The trail began under the canopy of trees which shaded me from the sun.  Soon after, I emerged from the woods and realized the final three hour ascent was above tree level.  The sweat on my face accumulated and my calves ached as the elevation increased.

As some of you may know, I am not the biggest fan of heights.  I’ll probably never be brave enough to  bungy-jump or sky dive and I felt mildly uncomfortable standing on the glass floor that lined the Auckland Skytower Observation Deck.  However, I like to believe I’ve gained a small sense of control over my fear of heights in the two to three years since hiking became a hobby.  But, there is usually a minute or two in most hikes that I stop, look into the vast valley below and question myself.  I debate wether to push on or turn around and retrace my steps without ever reaching the summit.  I am not embarrassed to admit that my ascent of Ben Lomond was no different.  There was a 30- to 45-second period when I fought the urge to give in and descend.  I continued to persuade myself that I did not travel to New Zealand to give up and I was closer to the summit than to the trailhead.  I needed to put one foot in front of the other and continue forward.

I’m glad I did as the views from the summit were breathtaking.  Many of the mountain ranges hidden when at street level now unfolded before me.  Off to the west and north stretched snowcapped peaks that pierced the blue sky and spanned the horizon.  To the east, The Remarkable mountain range loomed over Queenstown, Frankton and Lake Wakatipu.  After twenty to thirty minutes on the summit, I finished my sandwich, took a last sip of water and started the six mile descent that culminated at my motel door.

I feel a special connection to Queenstown.  It is the first location that a goal of my round-the-world adventure played out before me.  I depart tomorrow morning en route to Te Anau and Milford Sound.  Hopefully, the strong sense of accomplishment and reaffirmation I felt along the Ben Lomond Track will continue as the days, weeks, and months progress.

 

*Additional pictures from the Ben Lomond Track and summit are viewable on the New Zealand Portfolio section of the Perpetual Footsteps homepage.