Leg 6 Helistar to Aratiatia Station

Distance 8.9km
Height Gained 160m, Height Lost -90m

At 11.00pm at night we set-off on the sixth leg of the Trailwalk. There were light rain showers which required us to be wearing our wet weather gear. I had abandoned my faithful Nike Trainers, changing to a pair of Nike leather boots. Gaewyn & myself had previously done this section of the Trail during the Training weekend back in February so we know what to expect.

From Helistar it was back down the walkway to Huka Falls trying not to slip over in the wet & muddy conditions. It was strange to cross Huka Falls at night, a deserted car park, nothing to see, just the roar of the waterfall - all very eerie. Onto the Aratiatia walkway towards Aratiatia dam. Entering a pine forest and half expecting orcs to appear we turned right and out onto farmland. Up a steep farm track cut into the side of hill then along the farm races to cross over Aratiatia Road. As a pilot , I really loved the next section of the trail - a airstrip. Long, straight and level. At the end of the station a shorthill downhill run to the Landcorp Aratiatia Station, Broadlands. At this point we had now walked 72.4km - almost ¾ of the Trail was now behind us.



There was a team there as we arrived with a string of coloured lights and a portable generator. The leader had the lights outlining his body - it was like watching a moving sculpture, and looked fantastic. Well done guys.

Even though it was now 1.00am in the morning our support crew was there all bright & cheery to attend to us. Once again Alan met us as we arrived and guided us to the truck, where they had food & drink ready & waiting for us.