Coronation Peak - Mount Irene, 18 - 27 April 2003

Ten days of mostly fine weather in wild west Fiordland. Day 1: A ride on Captain Adrian Kerr's Grey Falcon to Shoal Cove, Bradshaw Sound, followed by a walk up the Camelot River to the old hut site at the foot of Bedivere Falls. Day 2: Up valley to Hidden Lake. Day 3: An attempt on Coronation Peak’s north-west ridge. It turned into a solo climb when the rest of the party bailed out, and I was hugely disappointed to be thwarted about thirty meters below the summit. Day 4: Up the Cozette Burn, North Branch, to Irene Saddle and down to the Irene Benches. Day 5: Along the benches to Robin Saddle Hut. Day 6: Pit day. Day 7: An ascent of Mount Irene via the West Ridge. Day 8: South along the tops at the western edge of the Murchison Mountains – wonderful! Day 9: More of the same – still wonderful! Day 10: Down the Gorge Burn to the end of the South Fiord, Lake Te Anau. Party: David Pomeranz, Gaël Varoquaux, James Scott, Danilo Hegg.

Lunch above Te Au Saddle
Climbing Fiordland Mountaineering New Zealand Robin Saddle Te Au Saddle Tramping
Lake Te Au and Lake Hilda
Climbing Fiordland Lake Hilda Lake Te Au Mountaineering Murchison Mountains New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Coronation Peak from Te Au Saddle
Climbing Coronation Peak Fiordland Mountaineering New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Tarn south of Te Au Saddle
Climbing Fiordland Mountaineering Murchison Mountains New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Sunset on Coronation Peak from the tarn above Hidden Lake
Climbing Coronation Peak Fiordland Mountaineering New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Mt Irene from peak m1694 at the head of the Adams Burn. Our route south of Robin Saddle traversed the crest of the range at centre image.
Climbing Fiordland Mount Irene Mountaineering Mt Irene New Zealand Robin Saddle Te Au Saddle Tramping
Looking north-west from the summit of peak m1694
Climbing Fiordland Mountaineering New Zealand Robin Saddle Te Au Saddle Tramping
Coronation Peak from unnamed peak m1694 at the head of the Adams Burn
Climbing Coronation Peak Fiordland Mountaineering New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Looking south to Mt Hall (left) and Mt Baird (right) from unnamed peak m1694 at the head of the Adams Burn.
Adams Burn Climbing Fiordland Gorge Burn Mountaineering Mt Baird Mt Hall New Zealand Tramping
Tarn south of unnamed peak m1694
Climbing Fiordland Gorge Burn Mountaineering New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Unnamed peak m1694 from the south. I soloed the left-hand ridge while the rest of the party continued towards the Gorge Burn.
Climbing Fiordland Gorge Burn Mountaineering New Zealand Te Au Saddle Tramping
Lakes Ione and Eva at the head of the Gorge Burn
Climbing Fiordland Gorge Burn Lake Eva Lake Ione Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Lakes Ione and Eva at the head of the Gorge Burn. The bluffs on the west ridge of Gerald Peak dominate the scene.
Climbing Fiordland Gerald Peak Gorge Burn Lake Eva Lake Ione Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Tarn at the head of the Gorge Burn. Mt Baird in the back.
Climbing Fiordland Gorge Burn Mountaineering Mt Baird New Zealand Tramping
Gorge Falls, just above the mouth of the Gorge Burn
Climbing Fiordland Gorge Burn Gorge Falls Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping