I was sore for days following the completion of the Milford Track. Immediately afterwards I had to wait around for a few hours until my shuttle van back to Te Anau Downs was ready to leave. I hung out in the terminal building in Milford Sound with a couple of the guys that were on the walk with me. I ended up spreading my wet clothes everywhere and changing in the toilets there, and being a generally messy backpacker in a public place.
That night I had a lovely dinner in Te Anau at the Redcliff Cafe which is a fantastic place, should you ever be there, and then that night crashed. I had some significant chaffing from the walk which was really painful. Seriously, don’t hike in wet cotton basketball shorts, ever! Thankfully the lovely people at Earth, Sea, Sky are going to make up some good hiking shorts for me. But the worst of the chaffing was over by the next morning.
It is funny how for the entire hike I had not got sore or stiff muscles, but withing minutes of finishing the walk my muscles had seized up something chronic, and stayed that way for about five days. It took nearly two weeks for my legs and knees to feel normal again. I still have numb toes from what I suspect is nerve damage from repeated bashing my toes into the end of my boots.
The support and accolades I have received since finishing the hike have been fantastic, and a little humbling. I had not realised how impressed people have been about my doing this. I also hadn’t realised how many people had not clicked on to me doing it alone, they mostly thought I was in a group or on a guided walk. But nope, I was out there by myself for the most part, with brief moments of people walking pass me.
Earth, Sea, Sky gave me me a nice hat from their stocks when I visited them two days after finishing. A good friend and supporter got me a gift of a very nice whiskey and a book on the great walks of NZ. It has been very pleasant, and it is starting to dawn on me what an amazing accomplishment this was.
I contacted the Department of Conservation to see what their thoughts on the “fattest” person to walk the Milford would be, and they said that they don’t keep that sort of data (no surprise) but at 168 kgs I can be quite confident in saying on am in fact one of the heaviest people to ever complete the Milford Track.
One Fat Hiker for the win 
I have been a bit slack and resting on my laurels in the month since I finished the track. I have done a bit of walking, but nothing like I was in preparations. Which means that if I want to maintain the gains I have made, and reinforce the habits I have started I had better come up with a new challenge, and a new Plan™ or all will be lost. I will put on weight, become lazy(er) and no one will like me. So watch this space. I will start a new challenge on 1st May 2016.
One Fat Hiker will walk again!
Hi Jordan,
I have been so incredibly inspired reading your blog. I’m a big gal myself who loves the outdoors and your blog has given me that last bit of encouragement to book a Milford hike (although I will be going with some friends who want to do the guided walks so I will be one of those jerks hehe).
Thank you so much for sharing your shenanigans with the world, are you still doing the Heaphy Track next month?
Chelle
Hey, thanks for you post. Did you do the Milford? I have been out of it for a bit, but going to start a new goal. And no, I didn’t get to the Heaphy. But watch this spot and there should be news soon on what I will do. Appreciate your comments. I wish I had read them two years ago . . .