Jean Batten Peak, 23 - 24 November 2013

An ascent of the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak (1971m), Ailsa Mountains. On Saturday we walked in from The Divide via Lake Howden (with a side trip to Key Summit) and the Caples Track; we set up camp by a tarn just north of McKellar Saddle. On Sunday we climbed to the summit then retraced our steps all the way down. Unfortunately the weather beat us to the top and deprived us of any views. Party: Aaron Whitehead and Danilo Hegg

Jean Batten Peak
Ailsa Mountains Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle New Zealand Tramping tarn
From McKellar Saddle, 16 - 17 July 2005
View down the Caples River to Lake Wakatipu from Unnamed Peak 1695m, Ailsa Mountains. Pt 2024m is at centre image; Tooth Peak just behind and left of it, while Jean Batten Peak is on the far right
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Caples Track Fiordland Fiordland National Park Jean Batten Peak Lake Wakatipu New Zealand Routeburn Track Tooth Peak Tramping 188 Caples River
From Lake Roberts, 11 - 12 February 2007
Jean Batten Peak
Ailsa Mountains Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Livingstone Mountains Livingstone Range New Zealand Tramping tarn Livingstone Range 260
From Livingstone Range, 8 - 9 June 2013
Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size
Jean Batten Peak route topo, from Key Summit
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Key Summit Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping route topo Jean Batten Peak 002
Route through the 100m high band of bluffs at 1700m of elevation on the west ridge of Jean Batter Peak. Because the picture is taken looking up, the view is foreshortened - the top pitch is longer than it looks. In fact it's the same length as the first one. We climbed 3 pitches on the way up; descended with two 30m abseils (top and bottom) and one pitch in between. The gully directly above (and left of) the first pitch might also go when the mountain is drier, maybe after the end of snowmelt. We found it a greasy gulch with water running in it.
ailsa mountains caples river climbing fiordland jean batten peak mountaineering new zealand tramping bluffs route topo jean batten peak 116a
View from Key Summit: Ngatimamoe Peak, Flat Top Peak, Pyramid Peak, Mount Suter
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Flat Top Peak Jean Batten Peak Key Summit Mount Suter Mountaineering New Zealand Ngatimamoe Peak Pyramid Peak Tramping Jean Batten Peak 003
Ailsa Mountains from Key Summit. From left to right are Ocean Peak, F-Knob, Emily Peak, Pt 1821m, Pt 1899m
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Emily Pass Emily Peak FKnob Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Key Summit Mountaineering New Zealand Ocean Peak Tramping Jean Batten Peak 005
Mt Christina and Mt Crosscut from Key Summit
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Darran Mountains Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Key Summit Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 006
Mt Christina, Mt Crosscut, Mt Lyttle from Key Summit
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Darran Mountains Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Key Summit Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Lyttle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 009
On the track to McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Caples Track Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 012
On the Caples Track just below McKellar Saddle, July 2005 (left) and November 2013 (right). This image is typical of DoC's current fashion of 'upgrading' many of our back-country tracks to benched highways
ailsa mountains caples river caples track climbing fiordland jean batten peak mckellar saddle mountaineering new zealand tramping jean batten peak 012a
Campsite above McKellar Saddle. Jean Batten Peak in the background
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping camping campsite tent Jean Batten Peak 015
Boardwalk on McKellar Saddle. The Livingstone Mountains in the background
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Livingstone Mountains McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping board walk boardwalk Jean Batten Peak 017
Jean Batten Peak
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 019
The Caples Track (Road?) just east of McKellar Saddle. Mount Bonpland in the background
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Caples Track Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 023
Pt 1449m and 1760m, north and east of McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 029
Jean Batten Peak from our campsite just north of McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 036
Jean Batten Peak from our campsite just north of McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 039
Our campsite just north of McKellar Saddle. Jean Batten Peak above
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping camp camping campsite tent Jean Batten Peak 043
Campsite above McKellar Saddle. Mt Christina, Mt Crosscut and Mt Lyttle in the background
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Darran Mountains Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Lyttle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping camping campsite tent Jean Batten Peak 085
Alpine sundew (Drosera arcturi). McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Alpine sundew Caples River Climbing Drosera Drosera arcturi Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping carnivorous plant insectivorous plant sundew Jean Batten Peak 073
Alpine sundew (Drosera arcturi). McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Alpine sundew Caples River Climbing Drosera Drosera arcturi Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping carnivorous plant insectivorous plant sundew Jean Batten Peak 066
Alpine sundew (Drosera arcturi). McKellar Saddle
Ailsa Mountains Alpine sundew Caples River Climbing Drosera Drosera arcturi Fiordland Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping carnivorous plant insectivorous plant sundew Jean Batten Peak 083
View of McKellar Saddle from the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak. Lake McKellar, Lake Howden and the Greenstone River on left
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Caples Track Climbing Fiordland Greenstone River Jean Batten Peak Lake Howden Lake McKellar McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 086
On the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 087
On the summit of Jean Batten Peak
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 090
What a place for a forest bird to die... near the summit of Jean Batten Peak. Silvereye (Zosterops lateralis)
ailsa mountains caples river climbing fiordland jean batten peak mountaineering new zealand tramping zosterops lateralis dead bird silvereye snow waxeye jean batten peak 094
Abseiling off the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak in foul weather
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping abseil abseiling Jean Batten Peak 095
Abseiling off the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak in foul weather
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping abseil abseiling Jean Batten Peak 102
The 100m high band of bluffs at 1700m of elevation on the west ridge of Jean Batter Peak
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Climbing Fiordland Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping bluffs Jean Batten Peak 116a
View of McKellar Saddle from the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak. Lake McKellar and the Greenstone River on left; the Caples River on right
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Caples Track Climbing Fiordland Greenstone River Jean Batten Peak Lake McKellar McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 121a
View of McKellar Saddle from the west ridge of Jean Batten Peak. Lake McKellar and the Greenstone River on left
Ailsa Mountains Caples River Caples Track Climbing Fiordland Greenstone River Jean Batten Peak Lake McKellar McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Jean Batten Peak 122

Southern Alps Photography

Jean Batten Peak, 23 - 24 November 2013

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