Day 2 on the
Milford Track
Mackinnon Pass (elevation 3520') lies at the base of
Mt Balloon (the name Sutherland gave both the mountain and the pass when he
first came to them) which soars to the north of the saddle where we crossed
to descend into the valley of the Arthur River.
There are many different reports of trekkers who climbed
to the pass yet never saw the monument or Mt Balloon or down either the Clinton
River valley or the Arthur River valley because of foul weather: high winds,
clouds, driving rains, ice or snow, or some combination of all of them. On
the brighter side, there is a report of a couple who carried a bagpipe to
the Pass and played it in full sunshine, thereby fulfilling a lifetime dream.
Mackinnon (whose name was misspelled so often that the
original spelling [McKinnon] has been long forgotton) was the first
Milford Track guide and, according to his legend, was remembered for his
good nature and ability at cooking pompolonas, a type of scone from which
one of the guided trip huts takes its name.
The image on the right is often seen in photographs,
paintings, stained glass, and other media throughout the south island. Click
on the picture on the right to enlarge the image.
