“On a Mish” #415 Precipitation. Patea / Doubtful Sound. Fiordland National Park. 30.11.2021. I’m sure there are some out there who wouldn’t be upset if they never saw a rainy day again. Precipitation can cause annoyance due to the fact that you are no longer dry. But if you learn to live with the wet you might find yourself enjoying the fully clothed shower. There is a reason why kids play in puddles, and from my experience once you embrace the power of precipitation it will become a memory of joy instead of a day of discomfort…
Before becoming a guide on the Routeburn Track I had never witnessed an intense Fiordland storm. The rain experienced in the remote parts of Western Southland is like no other and the stats tell the tale before you even visit the place. It is said that Fiordland has 200+ rainy days each year, and in some parts the annual rainfall can be pushing 10m on a yearly basis. The weather keeps the place uninhabited and the plant life always lush and full of life.
Before my time working at RealNz / Real Journeys ended I got an opportunity to guide kids who were staying at the Lodge in Deep Cove (Patea / Doubtful Sound). It was awesome to connect with the young fellas and show them Fiordland through my eyes. One part of the job that wasn’t in the job-description was getting the children pumped about a mish in the rain. I wanted to make sure their trip into the park was one they would never forget and if they didn’t enjoy themselves then I’d almost consider that failure.
On one particularly damp trip into Deep Cove I had to work extra hard to get some smiles. The team hadn’t had a day without heavy rain, and the forecast for the next couple of days was the same. After wet wanders and a water science lesson which almost involved water from above as much as the water that was below the little boat, we take out to get the kids up close with the fiord. The information doesn’t seem to sink in when the rain as got through every layer of clothing you are wearing.
Luckily, there is a small amount of magic that always shines brightly, and that is the incredible display of Titiwai / Glow worms that are just a short walk from the lodge. Like an ace up my sleeve, the walls lined with white glowing dots never disappoints, even when the precipitation is doing everything it can to dampen our moods. It is funny how the tiny light of a glow worm can be so fascinating no matter jhow many times you have seen it.
That night the rain turned the intensity up a couple of notches and the tin on the roofs of the buildings was sounding like that constant beating of a million drums. Drifting off to sleep when it is raining is a personal pleasure I love, but I don’t think some of the team were feeling the same.
Early-ish the next day we were up getting ready for our cruise around the fiord. I urged everyone to wear as many layers as possible as I wanted to get everyone out on the bow deck to face the storm head on and really get a taste of Fiordland. It took some encouragement but eventually I not only got most of the kids outside, but I also got some of the teachers and parents into the wild world outside as well.
Now, with most of the group out amongst the weather, I could go about my guiding knowing I had changed some opinions about what some call ‘bad weather’. Mission accomplished and I could head back home with a smile that to changing some people perception about precipitation. Rain is just part of life out in Fiordland and if you find yourself there during wet weather then why not suit up a face the storm head on, it might make you think differently about what some call and big inconvenience!
