My third through hike on the Routeburn with Sacha #174. We’re hopeful for snow this time and set ourselves a side mission to capture at least one spontaneous RunnersNZ story on the go!
We start early, dressed warmly and with headtorches on. Just past Key Summit turn off, still in darkness, a runner excuses himself and slips past. Visibility is low but he looks familiar and based on little more than a few Instagram photos I call out. He stops in his tracks and does a 180. Indeed it is Invercargill runner Jason Hodge! We chat briefly and I remind him he promised a Runners NZ next time we crossed paths. My camera is slung over my pack but it’s way too dark to capture anything in the dense bush. On he goes and I curse another missed opportunity.
We approach the opening at Lake Howden, well timed with the first rays of daylight. The Routeburn Track crosses a small bridge to the left, the first shelter just beyond it. To the right is the Greenstone Caples Track, from which suddenly Jason appears. Not to be defeated, and with just enough light, I capture a photo and story before he runs off for a second time. Jason Hodge #232
Sacha and I carry on past Lake Mackenzie and head upwards to the bluffs. Two runners zip past us on the steep section, we are all grinding and I don’t intrude to stop them. I assume they’re running right through and we won’t see them again… BUT
As we arrive at Tarahaka Whakatipu Shelter, just before Harris Saddle, who should we see!?
The two runners are now joined by a mate who’d come up from the other direction. We get talking and I loosely invite them to have their photo taken and share a story on RunnersNZ about why they run. Absolute good sorts – here on a spontaneous mission from Dunedin, having never heard of RunnersNZ before (and despite my very condensed and possibly poorest description of what it’s all about), they were in! A good chat, some photos on the lookout, and off they headed back towards the Divide. Legends, thanks team!
