The forests in New Zealand are different from anywhere else on earth I have been. They are dominated by ferns in a way really unseen elsewhere due to a prehistoric separation of the landmass that became New Zealand from the rest of the Southern supercontinent Gondwana back in the days of the dinosaurs. Ferns remained more dominant to this day than elsewhere in the world, giving you the feeling of stepping back in time when you roam the forests there. This sense of wonder was only enhanced by the wall of rock and snow that rose out of the valley across from me as I emerged from the forest to the edge of this lake. It was so beautiful I stopped short of my planned campsite to camp nearby so I could enjoy the view here for sunset. It was worth the extra miles the next day.

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