Mount Avalanche, 6 - 7 March 2010

A fun climb up a beautiful mountain. On Saturday, we walked up the West Matukituki Valley, past French Ridge Hut to the Quarterdeck. After a quick detour to take in the views from the top of Mt French, we set up camp on the Bonar Glacier. Spectacular! On Sunday, we enjoyed a pleasant climb on the west ridge of Mt Avalanche then walked back to the car park. Party: Aaron Whitehead, Jaz Morris, Nina Dickerhof, 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
Early morning at Shovel Flat, West Matukituki Valley
Bevan Col Breakaway Climbing Matukituki Valley Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt Bevan Mt French Mt Joffre New Zealand Shovel Flat Southern Alps Tramping fog Avalanche 003
Liverpool Hut and Arawhata Saddle from French Ridge
Arawhata Saddle Climbing Liverpool Hut Matukituki Valley Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 010
Mt Liverpool, Arawhata Saddle and Mt Barff from French Ridge. Liverpool Hut at centre image.
Arawhata Saddle Climbing Islington Dome Liverpool Hut Matukituki Valley Mountaineering Mt Barff Mt Liverpool New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 015a
On French Ridge. Mt Liverpool, Arawhata Saddle and Mt Barff in the background.
Arawhata Saddle Climbing French Ridge Islington Dome Liverpool Hut Matukituki Valley Mountaineering Mt Barff Mt Liverpool New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 022
Nina approaching French Ridge Hut. Mt Avalanche looms above.
Climbing French Ridge French Ridge Hut Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 028
Too right!
Climbing French Ridge Hut Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Warning sign Avalanche 034
Nina on French Ridge. Mt French and the Quarterdeck above.
Climbing French Ridge Mountaineering Mt French New Zealand Quarterdeck Pass Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 038
Aaron and Jaz on French Ridge. Mt French above.
Climbing French Ridge Mountaineering Mt French New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 041
Looking at Mt Avalanche and the Maud Francis Glacier from French Ridge.
Climbing French Ridge Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 049
Tarn on French Ridge. Mt Avalanche above
Climbing French Ridge Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 055
The team on top of Mt French
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt French New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 062
Mt Avalanche and Rob Roy Peak from Mt French
Bonar Glacier Climbing Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche Mt French New Zealand Rob Roy Peak Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 068a
Looking west from Mt French: Mt Anstead, the Forbes Mountains, Mt Edward, Mt Maoriri, Mt Liverpool, Mt Maori
Climbing Forbes Mountains Matukituki Valley Mountaineering Mt Ansted Mt Edward Mt French Mt Liverpool Mt Maori Mt Maoriri New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 073
Jaz on Mt French. Mt Aspiring behind.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt French New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 084
Descending Mt French. Mt Avalanche behind.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Flight Deck Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche Mt French New Zealand Quarterdeck Pass Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 098
Campsite on the Bonar Glacier, at the foot of Mt Avalanche
Bonar Glacier Climbing Flight Deck Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent Avalanche 101
Campsite on the Bonar Glacier. Mt Aspiring and Popes Nose behind.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent Avalanche 107
Campsite on the Bonar Glacier. Mt Aspiring and Popes Nose behind.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent Avalanche 114
Mt Aspiring and Popes Nose at sunset
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 124a
Mt Aspiring and Popes Nose at sunset. View from the edge of the Kitchener Cirque.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 129a
Mt Ionia and Eros at sunset
Bonar Glacier Climbing Eros Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 136
The north ridge of Mt Avalanche at sunset
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 138
The lake at the head of the Kitchener. Aeroplane Peak and the Kitchener Glacier above.
Aeroplane Peak Climbing Kitchener Glacier Kitchener cirque Moncrieff Col Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turnbull Thomson Falls Avalanche 145
Mt Ionia and Eros through a window in the ridge at the edge of the Kitchener Cirque.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Eros Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 154
Aaron and Mt Ionia
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 159
First day-light on Mt Aspiring. Picture taken from inside my sleeping bag (lazy photographer series continued)
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 160
First day-light on Mt Aspiring and Popes Nose. Picture taken from inside my sleeping bag (lazy photographer series continued)
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent Avalanche 166
At the toe of the west ridge, Mt Avalanche
Climbing Flight Deck Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 167
Mt Aspiring and Popes Nose from Mt Avalanche.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt Avalanche New Zealand Popes Nose Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 175
Rob Roy Peak and the Maud Francis Glacier from Mt Avalanche
Climbing Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Rob Roy Peak Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 181
Mt Avalanche East Peak and Middle Peak.
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 183
Our campsite on the Bonar Glacier from the top of Mt Avalanche.
Bonar Glacier Climbing Flight Deck Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent Avalanche 190
Looking west from Mt Avalanche
Arawhata Saddle Climbing Destiny Peak Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche Mt Barff Mt Edward Mt Liverpool New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 194
View down the Kitchener to Aspiring Flats and Sisyphus Peak from Mt Avalanche.
Aspiring Flats Climbing Kitchener Glacier Kitchener River Kitchener cirque Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Sisyphus Peak Southern Alps Tramping Wilmot Saddle Avalanche 200
On the summit of Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 205
On the summit of Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 206
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 207
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 215a
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 216
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 219
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 224
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 227
French Ridge Hut and Liverpool Hut from the west ridge of Mt Avalanche
Climbing French Ridge French Ridge Hut Liverpool Hut Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Avalanche 233
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Maud Francis Glacier Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 235
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 240
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 243
Abseiling off Mt Avalanche
Climbing Mount avalanche Mountaineering Mt Avalanche New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping abseil abseiling Avalanche 249

Southern Alps Photography

Mount Avalanche, 6 - 7 March 2010

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