Expanding Comfort Zones

I don't generally think of myself as someone who requires a lot to be comfortable. But there are certain luxuries in life I have grown accustom to but have been without for the last several weeks. Like for instance face wash, or a toothbrush longer than 3", (we cut ours in half to save weight). We have had to expand our comfort zones quite a bit for this trip, but the payoffs are quite worth it all. Here is a brief list of our expanded comfort zones:

1. Our feet are wet all the time. Even when it hasn't rained for several days your feet stay wet due to the constant stream/river/bog crossings.

2. The funk. The odor that everything we have with us exudes.

3. We had 6 river crossings yesterday alone one of which the water was above my belly button. (I would have taken photos but we were both just trying to stay alive) River crossings are to New Zealand Hiking what boulder hopping is to Teton Hiking. Just the way it is.

4. When the rare occasion to take a shower comes along we just put the same dirty clothes back on. It's neat.

5. We sleep with strangers. A lot. One night the hut we were staying in was so full we had five people sleeping in a space that barely fit four. We all had to roll as a unit.

6. We put our lives in the hands of those that will pick us up off the side of the street.

7. We have not slept in a bed since we left the States.
8. Neither one of us have shaved since we left.

And here is a brief list of the payoffs!!
Crucible Lake, Mt. Aspiring National Park. Amazing alpine lake with glaciers hanging above it.

Clay and I at Crucible Lake.
Sweetest cooking spot ever. Coming down from Cascade Saddle in Mt. Aspiring National Park.
Dart Glacier. On our way hiking up to Cascade Saddle.
Clay trying to create some artificial sunlight in the tent on our 7th day of straight rain.
Coming down from Harris Saddle on the Routeburn Track.
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Views from the top of Cascade Saddle. One of our toughest days yet. We had to combine two days of hiking in order to take advantage of good weather. The views made it worth the beating.