After taking 5 days with 16 day rations aboard,we`d lightened up by the time we got to Martins Bay,so we had a rest day.Getting to here,is pretty straight forward-even the Demon Trail reputation is overrated,unless you were taking out 200 cattle with you in Davey Gunns `era.Leaving Martins Bay,there`s a bit of niggle in the scrub past Longreef Point but then it`s beach,rock travel until you hit the sandy beach a couple of hours before Big Bay Hut.A mate who was to join us here,sent a note in by chopper saying he wouldn`t make it,& attached two footlong Subway rolls as a way of saying,`keep up ya greens.` Once past here,it`s on to the Pyke.The reason we`d come,apart from the nutrition boost,was to have a look at Lake Wilmot.Johnathon White had painted an oil of this lake back in the early 70s,& this had hung  in our lounge since I was in short pants.Still in short pants on the south side of sixty,I`d come with Maggie to `put ourselves in the picture.`Just past the old airstrip which George Wyber had put in,in 1960,the route led us out onto the Pyke riverbed,where we were hailed by two characters from Wanaka,Brian & Kat,in their wee rubber,2 kg kayaks.They`d gone round in 3 days,what had taken us 11.They would`ave had the odd fright but after a yarn in the rain,we were back to it.That night,we had a dry,balmy night within coeee of L Wilmot.We like the gentlely does it approach & after another day,we decided on an extra night at Olivine Hut.Went up for a decko at Olivine Falls,a cracker & generally dried gear & played with the axe.At the head of Lake Alabaster we put in another camp & walked up to Alabaster Falls,worth the look,just 10 minutes away.Then that southerly that dumped snow on Canterbury/Southland came through.No snow,or rain but strong enough to stop us walking the lake edge & complete the circuit at Alabaster Hut.Instead,we took to the bush up the hill beside the lake,fortuitously finding forty year old NZ Forestry permolat markers on Davey Gunns cattle track;sections of it,sort of useable but came adorned with ginormous supplejack & numerous windfall.C`est la vie.We ran out of day so camped 2 hours short of our goal & had an easy next day.If you`re at Alabaster Hut,there`s a giant rimu just behind the hut.At 9m circumference,it`s worth poking around & gawking at.Then,back on the yellow brick road,the formed track onto Hidden Falls Hut & the road end.This was vastly improved in the 60s & 70s with the Governments` PEP scheme.They did a great job;you could almost ride your bike to L Alabaster & DOC are maybe considering this.The present government haven`t written off joining the Hollyford with the Haast highway;personally I disagree but what price progress?We went through in June-generally more predictable settled weather & a distinct lack of people.Even most of the  the sandflies had gone to Fiji.

This route is raw but attractive & best taken without water.If this was the 1960s,Ed Cotters` outfit could`ave put you in here for 5 days,for just under 17 pounds.Before that,Davey Gunn could lighten your wallet & help you in with packhorses & a dinghy/launch to help you evade the Demon Trail.Mr Gunn reckoned the handiest gadget in a hut,was a sieve.Why,asked one chap?To get the mouse shit outa the flour.Now ya know.