Attempts on Mount Bonpland, 20 - 21 November 2010 & 18 - 19 November 2011

Take 1, 20 - 21 November 2010. Good route, bad weather. We crossed from Scott Creek into Kay Creek, then over two alpine basins to the west ridge of Mount Bonpland. Murky weather turned us around 100m north of the summit proper, and prevented us from finding the descent into the couloir on the Bryant Glacier (Glacier Burn). We thus retraced our steps the way we had come. A great tramp in unusual weather, with hail showers and sunny spells alternating every 10 minutes on Sunday. Party: Aaron Whitehead, Jaz Morris, Nina Dickerhof, Danilo Hegg
Take 2, 18 - 19 November 2011. Good weather, bad route. We walked up the Glacier Burn to a campsite at 1700m on the Bryant Glacier moraine. A 4am start meant we got to the top of the couloir bright and early, but a steep rock step on the north ridge proved too much of an obstacle for us. Several avalanches falling into the couloir from the bluffs above made for a very stressful descent. Party: Marco Billia and Danilo Hegg

20 - 21 November 2010 trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
At the head of Scott Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping
On the saddle at the head of Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping
On the saddle between Scott Creek and Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping
In the basin at the head of Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Hole in ridge, Kay Creek
Bonpland Kay Creek Mount Bonpland New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Size matters!
Kay Creek New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping cup of tea mug
On the west ridge of Mount Bonpland
Bonpland Mount Bonpland New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Mount Christina and Mount Crosscut, Darran Mountains
Bonpland Darran Mountains Mount Bonpland Mount Christina Mount Crosscut New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Sunrise on the Darran Mountains: Mt Te Wera, Mt Tutoko, Mt Madeline
Bonpland Darran Mountains Mount Bonpland Mount Madeline Mount Te Wera Mount Tutoko New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
View from the west ridge of Mount Bonpland: Upper Peak at sunrise
Bonpland Kay Creek Mount Bonpland New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping Upper Peak
At the head of Kay Creek
Kay Creek New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping Upper Peak
Looking into the north branch of Scott Creek (left) and Mount Earnslaw (right). Unnamed Peak 1736m at centre image
Mount Earnslaw New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping
At the head of Scott Creek
New Zealand Scott Creek Southern Alps Tramping tarn
18 - 19 November 2011 trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
At bushline in the Glacier Burn. Mount Bonpland at the head of the valley
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Mount Bonpland 002
View down the Glacier Burn. The Richardson Mountains across the Dart River
Black Peak Buckler Burn Climbing Glacier Burn Little Stony Creek Major Peak Mount Bonpland Mount Larkins Mount McIntosh Mountaineering Mt Butement New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Stone Creek Stone Peak Temple Burn Temple Peak Tramping Mount Bonpland 013b
View from the Glacier Burn: Mt Larkins, unnamed peak 2232m and Stone Peak
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Alaska Mount Bonpland Mount Larkins Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Stone Peak Tramping Mount Bonpland 016
Mount Bonpland couloir. War zone!
Bryant Glacier Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping couloir Mount Bonpland 021
View of the Richardson Mountains from the Bryant Glacier, Glacier Burn. Our campsite is visible near the bottom edge of the picture
Bryant Glacier Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Mount Bonpland 035
View of the Richardson Mountains from the Bryant Glacier, Glacier Burn
Bryant Glacier Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Richardson Mountains Southern Alps Tramping Mount Bonpland 050
Campsite on the Bryant Glacier moraine, Glacier Burn
Bryant Glacier Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping camp campsite tent Mount Bonpland 039
Campsite on the Bryant Glacier moraine. Mount Bonpland above
Bryant Glacier Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping camp campsite tent Mount Bonpland 051
Climbing the couloir on Mount Bonpland
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping couloir Mount Bonpland 056
Climbing the couloir on Mount Bonpland
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping couloir Mount Bonpland 061
Climbing the couloir on Mount Bonpland
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping couloir Mount Bonpland 064
The rock step that turned us back on the north ridge of Mount Bonpland
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Mount Bonpland 067
The rock step that turned us back on the north ridge of Mount Bonpland
Climbing Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Mount Bonpland 070
Darran Mountains panorama from the north ridge of Mount Bonpland
Climbing Darran Mountains Fiordland Glacier Burn Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Mount Bonpland 082a