Milford Track – 4 Day Great Walk
Day 2 : Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut.
19.90km. 4hrs 30min. 586m Elev. Gain.
We got up early, had our breakfast, and left Clinton Hut at a quarter past seven. Nath is 600+ days into a run streak and not about to let a multi day hike disrupt that. Following our plans made over dinner, we make our way out to the main track and drop our bags. I send Nath off in the direction of Glade Wharf for his 2km streak-saver run. We hiked this track yesterday so know its runnable, also it’s likely to be void of people so early in the morning. He returns and I pop a couple of snack bars in his pockets. Second breakfast. We set off along the beautiful Clinton River towards Mintaro.
Day 2 is another easyish walk. The Clinton Valley is jaw-droppingly beautiful, filled with lush green forest, serene water cascades and the noisy chorus of wildlife. We stop at each shelter for a snack and keep our promise to explore every inch of the available track. Two side paths taking us to Hidden Lake and Prairie Lake; these add a little distance to the 17.50km main track but are well worth it.
Finally the signage and carved pouwhenua for Mintaro came into view and flippin heck… this is not a hut but a bush mansion! A huge kitchen/dining room, 4 spacious bunk rooms, and a glorious sun soaked deck. Newly built, it even has phone chargers! Nestled against the towering mountains, we sit and eat our lunch at the outside tables, the last of our fresh fruit and Vogels bread. There is an overwhelming sense of ‘smallness’ looking up at the peaks towering above us.
On our way up to the hut we saw a couple of signs for a swimming hole. A few of our fellow hikers return from a cold plunge. They shiver while hanging their towns on the deck railing, promising the cool dip is refreshingly worthwhile. We head down and relieve our feet and legs in the icy alpine water. It is flippin cold! I stop when the water reaches my knees but challenge Nath to a full submersion. He counter challenges but neither of us are game. We return to the hut dry. And warm.
A sign on the hut notice board suggests hikers visit the Mackinnon Memorial in the afternoon of their Day Two. Its estimated 3 hours return and is part of the track covered on Day Three. We opt not to double up on that section and instead build Lego, complete a few puzzles found on the bookshelf of the community room and play cards. Later I’ll wish we had done it, hiked up to the summit and visited Mackinnon Memorial in the afternoon of Day 2. We certainly had enough time and fitness to do it, and on a stunner of an afternoon too. Tomorrow we’d learn how low cloud can hang around in the mornings, obscuring any views from the Pass until well after midday. An opportunity unfortunately lost, but we still an amazing day!
Day 2 dinner consisted of more BackCountry dehy meals, this time Stir Fry Veg and Noodles… and the start of a big block of Whittaker’s Chocolate. Our packs are getting lighter by the day and we sleep well here. The bunk rooms are smaller and ours only partially occupied. We get lucky with our room mates, none seem to snore!
