Into the Raglan Range
Date: 21 Sep 1999, The Press, Christchurch, page 23
Caption: Speargrass below the Severn Saddle.

PAT BARRETT reaches the summit of Mount Adams for one of the best views in the Southern Alps.

FACT FILE Access: from the south via the Lake Tennyson/ Island Pass transmission road, over Jacks Pass north of Hanmer Springs. Beyond Island Pass the gravel road is subject to washouts and may not be passable in a car. Judges Creek is crossed on a concrete road bridge in the upper Wairau Gorge, about four hours north of Christchurch. Grading: Difficult, extensive untracked areas with route finding required, which could be difficult in low visibility. Map: N30 Tarndale.

Stepping into the wide-open, park-like spaces of mid-Judges Creek is an unexpected and exciting introduction to a first-time visit to the Raglan Ranges, in the south-western corner of Marlborough. The stream flows to the Wairau Valley, reached via the Island Pass transmission road.

This mountain region forms the eastern boundary of Nelson Lakes National Park.

Judges Creek begins as a narrow, stony watercourse. Soon, beech forest crowds in on the valley sides and the valley floor drops back to reveal a long, wide, grassy canyon laid out beneath 2000m peaks _ eventually rising to a series of high basins in the headwaters. It is very dramatic countryside. The flats provide especially pleasant camping with outstanding views.

During hot weather, we camp in the forest shade of the forest with the valley expanse stretched out before us. A high, open scree ridge gives access to the upper Severn Valley from the Judges Creek flats.

The Severn drains to the Acheron River. It is a steep, dry watershed virtually devoid of forest, but it contains extensive tussocklands and spectacular bluffs in its headwaters. It is remote, but travel is remarkably easy. In summer and autumn, water is a problem. Drawing closer to Severn saddle, our route to the next valley headwater, the precipitous nature of the upper valley and past extensive glaciation is a grand spectacle. Waterfalls vanish in plumes of spray as they plummet over cliff faces.