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they failed to make a full crossing . The discovery of gold was the impetus for another exploration of the route and by 1866 a full road had been constructed allowing passage from one side of the island to the other , it quickly became known as Arthur ’ s Pass , as did the nearby village and eventually the National Park .
As we entered the park it became apparent why this part of the world is considered as it is . Forested mountains rose from the deep valleys , creating their own weather systems and providing an atmosphere that felt Jurassic . The road was sublime , nothing like what it must ’ ve been one hundred and forty years prior . The more recent iteration is relatively new and came of necessity , for this is unstable land . Rounding a bend a mysterious figure rose from the low-lying mist . An ugly image , altered by lust , consumed by greed . Gollum , that
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