PEAK-HOPPING in the Richmonds
WHEN THE RICHMOND RANGE Appreciation Society set off on its inaugural tramp over the Alpine Route last winter, only one of the three trampers – me – could claim full membership.
The five-day route has much to commend it – a satisfying tramp around a horseshoe of island-like peaks, protruding above a sea of beech forest; tidy huts with ample firewood; no major river crossings and enough variety and ruggedness to satisfy most. As a student, I’d often tramped in the Richmond Range, sometimes because it was our destination of choice; and at other times because of poor weather or avalanche danger elsewhere in the South Island mountains.
The second member of our party, Peter Laurenson, was keen to sample this range which was previously unknown to him. However, the third, Nelson born and bred Robbie Burton, publisher at Potton and Burton, had spent most of his 60 years studiously ignoring the range closest to his backdoor. Admittedly, Nelsonians are spoilt for choice and Robbie has tramped in Kahurangi (our second-largest national park), Abel Tasman (arguably the prettiest), and Nelson Lakes (the northernmost mountains of the Southern Alps).
If not for a poor forecast that scuttled
