Lochnagar - Mount Tyndall, 5 - 8 January 2012

A four day trip around and over Mount Tyndall - but due to glacial recession, our route over the mountain's west shoulder is pretty bad, and should not be attempted without 2 x 60m ropes for an ugly abseil. Day 1: Starting at Raspberry Creek car park, we ambled up the Matukituki River West Branch, then over Shotover Saddle in rain, and descended to Tummel Burn Hut via a high sidle above Tyndall Creek. Day 2: Down the Shotover River to Hundred Mile Hut, and up Lake Creek to Lochnagar. Day 3: We climbed to the steep sidle at the head of Pine Creek, then gained the ridge at the head of Snowy Creek, which took us to the Tyndall Glacier and to a high camp at 2400m on Mount Tyndall's west ridge. A route up the south ridge of Tyndall proved too dangerous due to the appalling nature of the rock. Day 4: We dropped onto the Isobel Glacier (not good!) then climbed the standard route to the summit of Mount Tyndall, before descending to Cascade Saddle and Aspiring Hut. Party: Gwenn Le Mée, Inka Koch, Danilo Hegg

Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
Climbing to Shotover Saddle, Matukituki Valley
Matukituki Matukituki River Matukituki River West Branch New Zealand Shotover Saddle Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 001
Looking down the Matukituki River West Branch from the slopes below Shotover Saddle. Brides Veil Waterfall is in the foreground
Brides Veil Waterfall Matukituki Matukituki River Matukituki River West Branch New Zealand Shotover Saddle Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 010
Gaining height above the Matukituki River West Branch, on the way to Shotover Saddle
Matukituki Matukituki River Matukituki River West Branch New Zealand Shotover Saddle Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 012
Tummel Burn Hut
New Zealand Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping Tummel Burn Hut hut Lochnagar Tyndall 026
Tummel Burn Hut, in Junction Flat just below Tyndall Creek Gorge
Junction Flat New Zealand Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping Tummel Burn Hut Tyndall Creek Lochnagar Tyndall 028
Tummel Burn Hut, in Junction Flat just below Tyndall Creek Gorge
Junction Flat New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tummel Burn Hut Tyndall Creek Lochnagar Tyndall 031
View up the Tummel Burn from Pine Creek Flat, Shotover River
Junction Flat New Zealand Pine Creek Flat Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping Tummel Burn Lochnagar Tyndall 042
Hundred Mile Hut, Shotover River
Hundred Mile Hut New Zealand Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping hut Lochnagar Tyndall 050
Hundred Mile Hut, Shotover River
Hundred Mile Hut New Zealand Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping hut Lochnagar Tyndall 060
Slender coral broom (Carmichaelia crassicaulis subsp. racemosa). Lake Creek, Shotover River
Carmichaelia Carmichaelia crassicaulis Flora Lake Creek New Zealand New Zealand native broom Slender coral broom Southern Alps Tramping broom racemosum Lochnagar Tyndall 070
Slender coral broom (Carmichaelia crassicaulis subsp. racemosa). Lake Creek, Shotover River
Carmichaelia Carmichaelia crassicaulis Flora Lake Creek New Zealand New Zealand native broom Slender coral broom Southern Alps Tramping broom racemosum Lochnagar Tyndall 076
Mountain koromiko (Veronica subalpina). Lake Creek, Shotover River
Flora Hebe Hebe subalpina Lake Creek Mountain koromiko New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall Veronica subalpina
Goatel rock biv, Lake Creek
Goatel Lake Creek New Zealand Rock bivvy Southern Alps Tramping biv bivvy bivvy rock rock biv Lochnagar Tyndall 081
View down Lake Creek from the Goatel rock biv
Goatel Lake Creek New Zealand Shotover River Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 089
Goatel rock biv, Lake Creek
Goatel Lake Creek New Zealand Rock bivvy Southern Alps Tramping biv bivvy bivvy rock rock biv Lochnagar Tyndall 093
Climbing out of the Goatel rock biv, Lake Creek
Goatel Lake Creek New Zealand Rock bivvy Southern Alps Tramping biv bivvy bivvy rock rock biv Lochnagar Tyndall 096
The massive landslide that formed Lochnagar. Notice the collapsed mountain top sitting intact on the valley floor
Lake Creek Lochnagar New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping landslide slip Tyndall 108
First view of Lochnagar, Lake Creek
Cleft Peak Lake Creek Lochnagar New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall 119
Lochnagar from the north. The peaks on the skyline are Little Lochnagar (2268m), Lochnagar (2316m), Cleft Peak (2250m)
Cleft Peak Lake Creek Little Lochnagar Lochnagar New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall 128a
On the Snowy Creek route out of Lochnagar. Looking back to the steep snow-grass sidle at the head of Pine Creek
Lochnagar New Zealand Pine Creek Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall 139a
Icelandic landscape at the head of Pine Creek. Unnamed peak 2308m on the right
New Zealand Pine Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 152a
Eroding landscape at the head of Pine Creek
New Zealand Pine Creek Southern Alps Tramping erosion Lochnagar Tyndall 158
At the head of Snowy Creek. The Forbes Mountains in the back
Forbes Mountains Mount Earnslaw Mount Head New Zealand O'Leary Peak Sir William Peak Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 167
View down Snowy Creek. The Forbes Mountains in the back
Forbes Mountains Mount Earnslaw Mount Head New Zealand O'Leary Peak Sir William Peak Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 173
Approaching Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier Lochnagar 182
Headlong Peak
Headlong Peak New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Lochnagar Tyndall 195
Mount Edward and Mount Maoriri from the west ridge of Mount Tyndall
Mount Ansted Mount Edward Mount Maoriri Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 203
Campsite at 2400m on the west ridge of Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier camp campsite tent Lochnagar 215
Mount Tyndall summit choss
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall choss Lochnagar 217
Campsite at 2400m on the west ridge of Mount Tyndall
Headlong Peak Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier camp campsite tent Lochnagar 219
Campsite at 2400m on the west ridge of Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier camp campsite tent Lochnagar 227
View down Snowy Creek from the west ridge of Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Snowy Creek Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier Lochnagar 231
At sunrise on Mount Tyndall's west ridge. On the skyline are the Centaur Peaks, Mount Earsnlaw and Headlong Peak
Centaur Peaks Headlong Peak Mount Earnslaw Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier Lochnagar 248a
Mountain tops like islands in an ocean of cloud. View at sunrise from Mt Tyndall's west ridge
Centaur Peaks Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Tyndall Glacier Lochnagar 252
Early morning panorama from Mt Tyndall's west ridge. The peaks above the Dart Glacier, from Mt Edward to Mt Liverpool, are at centre image
Isobel Glacier Mount Edward Mount Liverpool Mount Maori Mount Maoriri Mount Maruiwi Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 272a
Sunrise on Mt Aspiring
Fingals Head Isobel Glacier Mount Aspiring Mount Tyndall New Zealand Skyscraper Southern Alps Stargazer Tititea Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 275
Panorama from our camp on the west ridge of Mt Tyndall
Lochnagar Tyndall 302a
On the Isobel Glacier, after crossing the west ridge of Mt Tyndall (behind)
Isobel Glacier Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 308a
Climbing to the summit of Mount Tyndall
Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall choss Lochnagar 316
Climbing to the summit of Mount Tyndall. Mount Aspiring and Rob Roy Peak in the background
Isobel Glacier Mount Aspiring Mount Tyndall New Zealand Rob Roy Peak Southern Alps Tititea Tramping Tyndall choss Lochnagar 320
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (north)
Fingals Head Mount Aspiring Mount Duncan Mount French Mount Tyndall Mount avalanche New Zealand Rob Roy Peak Skyscraper Southern Alps Stargazer Tititea Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 328a
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (north)
Fingals Head Mount Aspiring Mount Duncan Mount French Mount Tyndall Mount avalanche New Zealand Rob Roy Peak Skyscraper Southern Alps Stargazer Tititea Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 328b
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (north-west)
Islington Dome Maiti iti Marion Tower Mount Ansted Mount Barff Mount Edward Mount Liverpool Mount Maori Mount Maoriri Mount Maruiwi Mount Tyndall Mount Wahine New Zealand Plunket Dome Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 332a
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (north-west)
Islington Dome Maiti iti Marion Tower Mount Ansted Mount Barff Mount Edward Mount Liverpool Mount Maori Mount Maoriri Mount Maruiwi Mount Tyndall Mount Wahine New Zealand Plunket Dome Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 332b
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (west). The three prominent peaks are, from left to right, Mt Albert, Mt Ian, Mt Lydia
Mount Albert Mount Ian Mount Lydia Mount Tyndall New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Tyndall Lochnagar 335
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (south-west)
Ferrier Peak Headlong Peak Hedin Peak McBride Peaks Mount Albert Mount Christina Mount Earnslaw Mount Gates Mount Head Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mount Tyndall New Zealand O'Leary Peak Paranui Peak Parariki Pluto Peak Sir William Peak Somnus Southern Alps Tramping Turret Head Tyndall Watkins Lochnagar 344a
Panorama from Mt Tyndall (south-west)
Ferrier Peak Headlong Peak Hedin Peak McBride Peaks Mount Albert Mount Christina Mount Earnslaw Mount Gates Mount Head Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mount Tyndall New Zealand O'Leary Peak Paranui Peak Parariki Pluto Peak Sir William Peak Somnus Southern Alps Tramping Turret Head Tyndall Watkins Lochnagar 344b

Southern Alps Photography

Lochnagar - Mount Tyndall, 5 - 8 January 2012

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