Richard Ackerley: Pathway to the setting sun

BY MARGIE THOMSON

In 1994 Richard Ackerley and his brother Kevin set out to achieve a first east-west crossing of New Zealand, mountaineering, mountain-biking and kayaking from the East Cape of the North Island to the west cape of the South Island. Graeme Dingle describes it in his introduction to this book, as undoubtedly one of the greatest wilderness journeys made in New Zealand.

The pair were university students at the time, taking time after exams to whiz up and down some of our highest peaks, down into our deepest cave, and across difficult waters, in just 113 days.

"We became so fit during our Southern Alps section of the trip," writes brother Kevin, "we felt we were dangerous, running up the mountains and conquering all we could see to proudly cross the numerous mountain names off the list." Gung-ho, indeed. But what gives this book its special edge is not just the intelligent, lively text or its many action photos (note, for instance, the blurry one on page 124, where Richard has somehow stopped in crazy water, as he and Kevin were both swimming alongside their capsized canoes, and snapped the seaspray-laden drama), but the poignancy of the book's publication following Richard's death while mountaineering in Pakistan's Karakorum Range in July 1999. This book will appeal to anyone who has pitted themselves against the great outdoors.

It's fascinating in its insight into the organisation of such undertakings, but at heart is simply a terrific adventure story involving a couple of likeable, quintessentially Kiwi, chaps.

Copies available by sending a cheque, plus $5 postage, to R Ackerley Trust Account, 35 Davis Rd, RD 2, Hastings.

Ackerley Family

$35