Richmond2

Richmond Day 2
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Thursday 3rd March 2011: We all had to climb up and check out the views from Slaty Peak [1544m] before heading on to Starveall Mt and Hut. One can see Tasman bay, the marching hills of the Bryant and Richmand Ranges and behind us, the impressive Mt Rintoul [1713m].
Nick calls home Keith_6587	Mates Ck North to Bryant Range Keith_6597	Beyond Lowther Saddle to Tasman Bay Keith_6599	It's beauty beckons us Keith_6601
Mt Rintoul, Alan and John B. JohnS_1473	Mt Rintoul, Roger and myself Ian_2206	Slaty Peak & Mt Rintoul Ian_2206	Video of panorama below Slaty [30MB NZ] Video02
Ahead of us lay the saddle leading to Mt Starveall [1551m] as shown in the composit panoramic view below.
Our route to Mt Starveall (on left) which connects to Mt Gale (on right) by Lowther Saddle, as seen from Slaty Keith_6611-3 composit
The walk between Slaty and Starveall is a pleasant one (at least in good weather), with the ascent not overly demanding.
Keith and Nick in bush JohnS_1490	Rest up on ascent JohnS_1491	Another view of Rintoul Keith_6627	required mycological specimen Keith_6638
Before one realises it, the open tops of Starveall appear leading to further magnificent panoramas. Slightly to the right of laty Peak is "Old Man" and beyond that is the Mt Patriarch ridge.
Approaching Starveall tops Keith_6642	View back to Slaty etc Keith_6643	Lowther Saddle, Hacket Peaks & Mt Gale Keith_6646	Mt Taranaki just visible if you look really hard Keith_6654a
Composit view from Mt Starveall from NW to NE (with Mt Taranaki just visible if you look really hard Keith_6649comp			Keith takes bearing on Mt Taranaki Ian_2221
We were reluctant to leave the open tops of Starveall with such magnificant views including a faint but distinct Mt Taranaki summit visible due North (magnetic). Eventually an easy descent took us to Starveall Hut, from where we could still make out Mt Taranaki.
Nick on Starveall tops Ian_2222	Mt Cook "Lily" (Ranunculus lyallii) (really a buttercup) JohnS_1499	Ian begins descent JohnS_1504	Further descent JohnS_1510
Starveall Hut Ian_2227	Cheeky weka Keith_6680	Video of Cheeky_ Weka [22MB NZ] Video	Keith plates up Ian_2233
With such an easy day, we had plenty of time for a four course meal: Falafel & gravey; soup; Butter Chicken (from Nutrela & chicken stock) & Basmati rice; dried fruit with hot custard desert). We also had time for the local birdlife to become accoustomed to our presence. The hut notes talked about a "cheeky weka" and this individual eventually arrived and made a number of attempts at stealing socks (see the video above).