May 31 – My First Track Walk.

          

           I decided that in order to convert into something less than a wimp, I would walk the “tracks” around Wellington.  I do not usually walk or hike.  I am more of a pool person.  But here, walking is the thing.  A track is a hiking or walking trail and there are a lot of them.  New Zealanders like to get out and walk.  One of the oldest parks in Wellington, Khandallah Park, is very near our house.  It has a track that goes to Mount Kaukau which, at 445 meters (about 1500 feet), is the highest summit in Wellington.  I did not know this when I decided to give it a go.  Remember, they refer to these as “hills.”

 I gingerly set off up the trail, not knowing what to expect.  I soon realized that for me this was going to be a stiff uphill climb.  For the people of Wellington, this track is considered an easy walk up a hill, fun for the whole family.  It is rated as easy/intermediate by the local trail group.  

The track consists of a trail built out with steps where needed, mostly where it becomes so steep the trail becomes vertical.  You would think steps would make it easier.  No.  This was not one or two steps to make a transition but eight or ten steps with very high risers.  The ascent was 245 meters (about 800 feet up) and about half of that distance was stair climbing.  

Along the way, I ran into casual walkers, runners, and even a woman with her young kids.  Everyone seemed fresh.  I was breaking a sweat and breathing fairly hard.  There were moments when I had to argue with myself to keep going.  When was this trail going to end?  But I was not going to wimp out and turn around.  My hips were screaming by the end, (stupid piriformis) but I made it to the summit.  There I found the woman with her three boys enjoying the view. Wellington harbor was spread out in front of us.  It was so clear I could even see the South Island.  One of the boys told me he was seven.  He asked me how old I was.  I said too old to be climbing this damn hill.  

The entire loop is 4.9 km, (about 3 miles).  I only went up and back, a mere 1.5 miles.  I covered the ground in the allotted 30 minutes to the top and about 45 minutes down.  Those steps are tough on the old knees.  By the time I got back home, I was hurting.  My poor hips.  So much stretching to do.  But I did it.  My first track—the easy Mount Kaukau summit.