Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas all. I am spending the holiday in Queenstown at a hostel. Several of the other people and I made a sort of potluck for dinner which was nice. Since leaving Te Anau with Shunit we traveled to Dunedin through the southern most route, through Invercargill and the Catlins. Shunit is the Israeli girl that I met on the Milford. We stayed at this hostel in Owaka that was an old hospital. While this was a little creepy it was really pretty cool, several of the beds were old hospital beds. After leaving Owaka we went to Dunedin where we stayed a few days. Dunedin is an interesting city. It was designed with a similar layout to Edinbourgh and has the worlds steepest street. Also visited the Speights Brewery and took the tour. It is one of the few gravity brewery's left in the world. All this means is that the ingredents start at the top of the building and the beer comes out at the bottom.
After leaving Dunedin we came to Queenstown for the night and left for the Rees-Dart track. This track is a 4-5day backpacking trip north of Queenstown sort of near the Routeburn. This track is also not a great walk which makes it a little less populated and more difficult. It was amazing. Hiking through bogs and wading rivers it was incredible. On the second day it was raining lightly and when crossing the Rees saddle it was snowing. It was so beautiful. Day three we did a side trip up to the Cascade Saddle. This day trip takes you by 2 hanging glaciers, by the Dart Glacier, and up to the saddle. Because of the recent snow we were postholing it through knee deep snow in some areas but just as you reach the crest you are rewarded with the most spectacular view. I think it is one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen and the Warden at the hut said it is probably one of the best alpine views you can get without crampons and special equipment.
I think what makes it so amazing is that the mountains are schist so you hike up the gradually sloping side and the saddle is at the area where the jagged edge forms cliffs. The world drops away into a lush glacial valley surrounded by snow capped peaks. There are waterfalls hundreds of feet below fed by the snow melt. It makes one glad to be alive to be standing on the edge of the cliff high above the floor breathing in the beauty.
In my enjoyment I forgot to reapply my sunscreen and wound up with a sunburn. I am still peeling.:)
After leaving the hut we walked 2 days out along the Dart river and returned to Queenstown. Went to dinner with Shunit and Johan (a Dutch guy we met on the trail) when we got back and then bar hopping. Was a great way to end a trek, fun people and to much to drink.
That brings me to where I am today. Tomorrow I am planning on doing a day hike just out side of town then on the 27th to Wanaka.