McKinnon Pass

Standing at McKinnon Pass, the highest point of the Milford Track, felt like arriving at a rare and fleeting moment that nature had quietly allowed us to witness. We were among the lucky few who happened to be there at exactly the right time—when the clouds parted and the mountains revealed themselves in full. The ranger said that clear views from the pass are rare, given how unpredictable the weather can be in this part of the fiord. Somehow, on that day, everything aligned.

The temperature was –5°C, and the cold cut sharply through the air, but it only seemed to heighten the experience. The crispness made the landscape feel even more vivid and alive, as if the stillness of the mountains had settled over us for a moment.

The Milford Track, a four-day hike through Fiordland in New Zealand’s South Island, is known as one of the country’s famous “Great Walks.” Even securing a place on the trail is its own kind of expedition—bookings open a year in advance, and getting a spot can feel like a race against thousands of hopeful hikers. Yet once you’re there, walking through valleys carved by glaciers, seeing thousands of waterfalls and climbing toward a place like McKinnon Pass, you understand why so many people try.

More than anything, the journey leaves a deep sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the landscape, for the rare moment of clear skies, and for the people who shared the trail and the experience along the way.

This is the unedited audio/video from McKinnon Pass—a small token into that moment. Enjoy.