Bruce Hopkins wants to take his dad and brother's ashes back home to Rakiura/Stewart Island. He’s just taking the long way to get there. The long, long way.
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The Richmond Ranges as seen from the comfort of St Arnaud. Photo: Bruce Hopkins
Bruce Hopkins is in Te Wai Pounamu, on the second leg of Te Araroa.
Bruce Hopkins Trail Diary - Week 23
3 March – 10 March 2018.
Richmond Ranges – St Arnaud
Pelorus River. Photo: Bruce Hopkins
“After my longest stretch of consecutive days sweating it out in one of New Zealand’s most rugged and beautiful hinterlands I finally find myself back in civilisation and internet connection.
“Just completed 13 days without a break on Te Araroa Trail and have now done what is regarded as one of the hardest sections of the trail.
I started at Pelorus Bridge, headed up the Pelorus river track then into the Bryant Ranges and the Richmond Range, in tandem with great young dude Bevan.
Bruce's hiking buddy Bevan. Photo: Bruce Hopkins
“The next three days I was on my own climbing around vertical rock cliff faces on Mt Rintoul, knowing that if you slip on your hand hold or foot placement, your reality will probably be a lonely death in the mist.
“Now to mend my frikkin, left knee, damaged when descending the scree slope of Mt Rintoul!”
One of these things is not like the other. Photo: Bruce Hopkins
