From the lower Wanganui valley, the Lord Range stands upvalley enticingly, like a castle wall. Rock strata on it is unusual, layering horizontally as the rock on Mt Earnslaw does, with big bold buttresses standing out. However, the rock is patchy. It is accessed up a DoC track to the tussock from the Lambert Valley near Hunters Hut. Routes then lead around into the upper Lord Valley and Strachan Pass, or along the range on the northern side through Camp Saddle.
Blue Lookout to Camp Saddle and beyond.
To traverse from Blue Lookout along the northern side of the Lord Range, sidle north-east from
Pt 1273 metres at about 1300 metres in tussock, without gaining much height initially, then climb up
to a basin at I34 306715 / BW18 206 099. Along with a bit of old helicopter wreckage, there is a tarn and
campsite here. A low route then exists across at roughly the 1500-metre contour to the rib with Pt 1236
metres on it. Descend east off that point to the stream draining Camp Saddle and follow the stream
up. There is a good campsite in the basin at about 1340 metres.
There is also a high level route : From the helo wreckage campsite, follow the basin up to the south
and then east to almost the crest of the range, just north of Pt 1994 metres. Follow easy basins near
the crest of the range to the spur off Pt 1983 metres. Descend the big obvious gully (it’s steep with rock
debris in it) north from here and sidle out at 1500 metres into the Poker Gully basin.
Camp Saddle was named by George Roberts in the 1880s. It offers a route to Dan Peak while,
beyond it, routes lead via the remains of the Wilberg Glacier to Mt Lord (and so Strachan Pass), Mt
Whitcombe, and the Wanganui Valley via Vane Stream.
Places
in association with the Canterbury Mountaineering Club