Mt Patriarch – Mt Richmond Forest Park

What a trip, what a weekend, what a day! We had a wonderfully smooth sail on the Interislander, and used the time to scour our maps and discuss where we would go! It’s a wonderful feeling to pour over topo maps and evaluate track options when possibilities abound!  So exciting! We had been informed by … Read more

White lights and bright snow: Old Man Hut Circuit

Friday night, the ferry arrived early in Picton, which we quickly found out doesn’t show movies on long weekend evenings (due to lack of demand!). Next morning, the E-M group we were sharing the van with kindly agreed to being on the road by 7.30am. Nearing the Richmond Ranges, we saw the rewards of the … Read more

Richmond Range (a primer)

Richmond Range

We weren’t supposed to be in the Mount Richmond Forest Park – that was Plan C. But the weather had already put paid to Plans A and B. So as we were driving up Staircase Road to the Lake Chalice carpark and a pine tree fell in slow motion across the road immediately in front … Read more

Mount Richmond Tripping

We had a good group of people keen to get into the Richmond Range and do some reconnoitring over the long Wellington Anniversary weekend. Having recently come out of a mission to Carkeek Hut (and beyond) I was still a bit sore but keen to get into this great part of the south island, having … Read more

Mid Goulter (very steep)

“Hmm, maybe my hatchback wouldn’t make it here after all,” I finally admitted, at about a quarter to midnight.  Whilst it’s a ‘gravel road’ on the map, the road to Lake Chalice is a lot more like a goat track than a road.  It’s narrow, steep, winding and rough.  For once I was grateful to … Read more

Rintoul Hut

The Richmond Range is seldom visited by the club, possibly as there are few good round trips. I had visited Rintoul before when doing the Richmond alpine route so knew it was good country. The choice of route was a problem, as to do a round trip meant we would miss the 7pm ferry and … Read more