“A Mish a Day” #178 Lake Hill(762m). Hakatere Conservation Area. 8.8.2020. There is nothing like the feeling of 1st, topping out on the summit of a mountain, and 2nd, returning back home safely to tell the tale. Because of my hip accident It had been a long time since I had had this feeling of satisfaction, so I decided it was time to put up with a little discomfort, and get back on top of a hill again. A very important feature of the “mountain” I was going to limp up was nothing too steep or long, in both time and distance…
Now it is no secret that I really love the Hakatere Conservation Area, and I have been on many adventures within the huge area of mountainous land. During my hikes in Hakatere I have slipped into a meditative state that works wonders for mental health. Exercise is very important for humans, and without it not only does your body suffer, but also the mind begins to struggle with the lack of carefree freedom experienced while partaking in physical activity. On many of these trips I have traveled to Lake Heron to tackle the mountains east of the lake, mainly the impressive peaks of the Taylor Range, and to get there the access track passes the track up Lake Hill(762m). Lake Hill(762m) is definitely no mountain, as it is more a tussock-covered, large pile of glacial moraine (rocks) left by the once mighty glaciers in the area around 10,000 years ago.
A trip from the always awesome crib in Lake Clearwater had me at the Lake Heron car park in no time, and I began my slow wander along the south shore of Lake Heron towards the Lake Hill Track. The dark moody clouds had already consumed the bigger peaks of the Arrowsmith Range west of the lake, and I knew it wasn’t going to be long until the rain would arrive on the east side of the lake. I got to the track junction, and finally turned right for the first time to begin my long overdue journey up Lake Hill(762m). I limped along, stopping often for rest/water breaks, and to check on the clouds and wind which was stirring up the almost black water of Lake Heron. I finally got to the top, and got to stand next to a trig tower again, and even though it wasn’t exactly the biggest mountain, it was still epic! There was only time for a quick look, as the first drips of the incoming storm began to fall. Now I had to slowly rush (limp/shuffle) my way back down to the car park, my only escape from the rain. To tell you the truth, I was a little sore for a few days after the mish, but that sweet feeling of mission success made it all worthwhile… bring on the next battle!!
