Get out of your comfort zone…. And up a mountain to see the sunrise. That was my only motivation for getting out of bed at the ungodly hour of 6am this fine morning. What possessed me to suggest such an idea to a group of people who were all more than willing to comply I will never know. There were no excuses as I pulled on my thermals, and headed up to the bottom of the Queenstown Hill walking track.
Head torches on, backpacks packed, the team together, we headed off into the darkness and up the track. With Queenstown Hill, the clue is in the name - it’s uphill all the way. Yet somehow, not being able to see what’s coming next is somewhat comforting, and forces you to be very much in the present. As we came out of the trees, the moonlit sky opened up all around, and coming up to the summit, the silhouetted Remarkable mountain range glowed brightly in front of us.
Watching the sun rise, creating a magical atmosphere all around us and a dreamlike sensation that floated through the air, we revelled in our accomplishment, toasting with flasks of tea. It felt as though we were the only ones in the world witnessing this beauty.
And yes, at 6am I didn’t want to get out of my warm comfy bed, and go outside into the cold, dark morning. And I highly expect that if I didn’t have eight others relying on me being there, all of whom I had coaxed into agreeing to this mission, that I wouldn’t have had the motivation to do it at all. But I did. And it is for that reason that I got to be a part of an awesome sunrise hike, an experience exquisitely unique.
So my advice to anyone, is to make those goals, and plan something amazing. And when you do, make them with friends. Because they’re going to be the ones who get you out of your comfort zone, and they’ll be the faces you see when you reach the top of your mountain.
So, what are you waiting for!
Head torches on, backpacks packed, the team together, we headed off into the darkness and up the track. With Queenstown Hill, the clue is in the name - it’s uphill all the way. Yet somehow, not being able to see what’s coming next is somewhat comforting, and forces you to be very much in the present. As we came out of the trees, the moonlit sky opened up all around, and coming up to the summit, the silhouetted Remarkable mountain range glowed brightly in front of us.
Watching the sun rise, creating a magical atmosphere all around us and a dreamlike sensation that floated through the air, we revelled in our accomplishment, toasting with flasks of tea. It felt as though we were the only ones in the world witnessing this beauty.
And yes, at 6am I didn’t want to get out of my warm comfy bed, and go outside into the cold, dark morning. And I highly expect that if I didn’t have eight others relying on me being there, all of whom I had coaxed into agreeing to this mission, that I wouldn’t have had the motivation to do it at all. But I did. And it is for that reason that I got to be a part of an awesome sunrise hike, an experience exquisitely unique.
So my advice to anyone, is to make those goals, and plan something amazing. And when you do, make them with friends. Because they’re going to be the ones who get you out of your comfort zone, and they’ll be the faces you see when you reach the top of your mountain.
So, what are you waiting for!
Photo Credits: Benjamin Kohles, Mary Clarke