Whitbourn - Arawhata, 30 January - 7 February 2010

Nine days of awesomeness - steady hot sunny weather saw us through some spectacular alpine country in Mt Aspiring National Park. We started from Raspberry Flat (Matukituki Valley), crossed Cascade Saddle, descended into the Dart then walked up the Whitbourn, climbed Mt Edward, then over Whitbourn Saddle down to Williamson Flat. After a side trip onto the Waipara Range to climb Mt Ionia from a high camp on Turks Head, we continued up the Arawhata River to the Arawhata rock biv, then crossed Arawhata Saddle to Liverpool Hut. A wonderful trip! Party: Aaron Whitehead, George O'Sullivan, Danilo Hegg

The Snowball Glacier from our campsite north of Pivot Peak. The summit of Mt Lydia is visible right above The Snowman. Mts Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta to the left.
Climbing Destiny Peak Mountaineering Mt Alpha Mt Beta Mt Delta Mt Gamma Mt Lydia New Zealand Snowball Glacier Snowdrift Range Southern Alps The Snowman Tramping
Campsite north of Pivot Peak.
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent
Mt Ionia at sunset
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Sunset on Mt Aspiring, from our campsite north of Pivot Peak.
Bevan Col Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt Barff Mt Bevan New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Sunset on Mt Aspiring, from our campsite north of Pivot Peak.
Bevan Col Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt Barff Mt Bevan New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Campsite north of Pivot Peak. The Olivine Range on the horizon.
Climbing Destiny Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping campsite tent
Mt Aspiring at dusk.
Bevan Col Bonar Glacier Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt Barff Mt Bevan New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Dawn on Destiny Peak.
Climbing Destiny Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping
Sunrise on the Olivine Range.
Climbing Destiny Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping
The lower Snow White Glacier from the ridge above Mystery Col. And a new lake that is not surrounded by moraine!
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring New Zealand Snow White Glacier Southern Alps Tramping
Snowball Glacier avalanche
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Lydia New Zealand Snowball Glacier Snowdrift Range Southern Alps The Snowman Tramping avalanche
Snowball Glacier avalanche
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Lydia New Zealand Snowball Glacier Snowdrift Range Southern Alps The Snowman Tramping avalanche
Tarn on the spur west of Mystery Col. Mt Ionia behind.
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
Williamson Flat and the Joe River from the spur west of Mystery Col. North Snowball Creek is on the left, the Five Fingers Range at centre image and the Olivine Range to the right.
Climbing Destiny Peak Five Fingers Range Joe River Mountaineering New Zealand Olivine Range Snowball Creek Southern Alps Tramping Williamson Flat
Tarn in North Snowball Creek headwaters. Destiny Peak and Gable Peak behind.
Climbing Destiny Peak Gable Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping
Williamson Flat and the Waipara Range. Mt Ionia at centre image.
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range Williamson Flat
North Snowball Creek in Williamson Flat. The Olivine Range on the horizon.
Climbing Destiny Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Olivine Range Snowball Creek Southern Alps Tramping Williamson Flat
Looking into the upper Arawhata from the Waipara Range. From left to right are Mt Barff, Arawhata Saddle, Mt Liverpool, Mt Wahine, Mt Maori, Maiti-iti, Mt Maruiwi.
Arawhata River Arawhata Saddle Climbing Maiti iti Mountaineering Mt Barff Mt Liverpool Mt Maori Mt Maoriri Mt Wahine New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Looking into the Arawhata and Williamson Flat from the Waipara Range below Turks Head.
Arawhata River Climbing Destiny Peak Mountaineering Mt Lydia New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range Williamson Flat
Looking up to Mt Ionia while on our way to Turks Head.
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
Mt Ionia from a campsite below Turks Head. Our route (entirely visible) sidles the glacier under the west ridge, then climbs the snow fields to the rocky summit ridge.
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
Mount Ionia from our campsite below Turks Head.
climbing mercer glacier mountaineering mt ionia new zealand southern alps tramping turks head waipara range Ionia Mount Ionia
Campsite below Turks Head. Mt Ionia looms above.
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range campsite tent
Evening light on Mt Ionia
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
Evening light on Mt Ionia
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
Evening light on Mt Ionia
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
First rays of sun on Mt Ionia's snow shoulder
Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Olivine Range Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range Williamson Flat
First rays of sun on Mt Ionia's snow shoulder
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Looking into the lower Arawhata from Mt Ionia's rocky summit ridge.
Arawhata River Climbing Eros Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris) on Mt Ionia's summit ridge. He popped in front of me just as I was about to anchor myself at the end of a pitch - then beat us to the summit!
Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Waipara Range Xenicus gilviventris rock wren wildlife
George sidling under the gendarme on Mt Ionia's summit ridge.
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Aaron enjoying life on Mt Ionia's summit pinnacle.
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Danilo on Mount Ionia's summit pinnacle.
climbing mountaineering mt ionia new zealand southern alps tramping waipara range Ionia Mount Ionia
Danilo on the summit of Mt Ionia
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Mt Aspiring from Mt Ionia
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Aspiring Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Eros from Mt Ionia.
Arawhata River Climbing Eros Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
George on the summit of Mt Ionia.
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Waipara Range
Looking west from Mt Ionia. Red Mountain stands out behind the Retreat Pinnacles, the Remote Peaks are to the right, Typhoon Peak and Toreador Peak on the far left.
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Red Mountain Remote Peaks Retreat Pinnacles Southern Alps Toreador Peak Tramping Typhoon Peak
Tarn below Turks Head
Climbing Mountaineering Mt Ionia New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
The peaks between Arawhata Saddle (left) and Mt Lydia (right) from the saddle below Turks Head. Our campsite is visible as a tiny green speck on a straight line below Mt Lydia.
Arawhata Saddle Climbing Maiti iti Mountaineering Mt Alpha Mt Beta Mt Delta Mt Gamma Mt Liverpool Mt Lydia Mt Maori Mt Maoriri Mt Maruiwi Mt Wahine New Zealand Pakeha Col Pivot Peak Snowdrift Range Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head Waipara Range
Gentianella bellidifolia. Turks Head, Arawhata River
Climbing Gentiana matthewsii Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Turks Head snow gentian
Food and gear stash in the Arawhata river mid flats.
Arawhata River Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Arawhata river top flats. Mt Barff and Arawhata Saddle above.
Arawhata River Arawhata Saddle Climbing Mountaineering Mt Barff New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Arawhata river top flats: where the clear waters of the Arawhata merge with milky Snow White Creek. Twin Falls above.
Arawhata River Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping Twin Falls
Reading Antics in the Arawhata rock biv.
Antics Arawhata River Arawhata Rock Biv Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
Looking down into the Arawhata from the Arawhata Saddle's western slopes. The Twin Falls drain the Snow White Glacier (top left) and merge into the Arawhata River at Top Flats. The Mercer Glacier is at the top right corner of the image. The Arawhata Rock biv is the huge boulder in the river bed at centre image.
Arawhata River Arawhata Rock Biv Climbing Mercer Glacier Mountaineering New Zealand Snow White Glacier Southern Alps Tramping Twin Falls Waipara Range
George descending a steep snow gully below the Arawhata Saddle.
Arawhata Saddle Climbing Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Alps Tramping
On the moraine at the head of Liverpool Stream. Rob Roy Peak dominates the scene.
Arawhata Saddle Climbing Liverpool Creek Mountaineering New Zealand Rob Roy Peak Southern Alps Tramping

Southern Alps Photography

Whitbourn - Arawhata, 30 January - 7 February 2010

Gallery comments

Alan

Blair Macdonald