Tongue Spur Summit, 30 - 31 August 2014

A fun ascent of Unnamed Peak Pt 2024m in the Ailsa Mountains, right above Upper Caples Hut and Steele Creek. It's the highest point on Tongue Spur.
On Friday night I walked from The Divide to Lake Howden Hut, then on Saturday I continued over McKellar Saddle into the head of the Caples River, and to a high camp to the saddle at 1623m at the head of the West Branch of Steele Creek (West Steele Saddle).
On Sunday I climbed to the top of Pt 2024m then found a more direct descent line to McKellar Saddle before returning the way I had come.

The best route to the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch leaves the Caples Track where this re-enters the bush 1km east of McKellar Saddle. Above bushline, an easy gully on the true right of a creek leads through a band of bluffs at CB09 185 222 / D41 285 840. After crossing over a broad spur, a ramp through bluffs at CB09 193 222 / D41 293 840 gives access to the valley north of the saddle.

Trip map. 1 grid square = 1km. Left click on map then select "Sizes -> Original" in bottom right corner of screen to view full size.
Aurora australis over Lake Howden
Tongue Spur Summit 0061 Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Aurora Aurora Australis Lake Howden Mountaineering New Zealand Routeburn Track Tramping night sky stars
Star trails and aurora australis over Lake Howden
Tongue Spur Summit 0160a Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Aurora Aurora Australis Lake Howden Mountaineering New Zealand Routeburn Track Tramping night sky stars start trails
Time lapse video - night sky over Lake Howden
Tongue Spur Summit 0418
Jean Batten Peak from McKellar Saddle
Tongue Spur Summit 0420 Ailsa Mountains Caples Track Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Jean Batten Peak from McKellar Saddle
Tongue Spur Summit 0427 Ailsa Mountains Caples Track Jean Batten Peak McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
On the Caples Track just below McKellar Saddle
Tongue Spur Summit 0450 Ailsa Mountains Caples Track McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View of the Ailsa Mountains. Unnamed Peak Pt 1945m is at centre image; Pt 1760m is on the right
Tongue Spur Summit 0456 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Looking over McKellar Saddle to the Earl Mountains. Ngatimamoe Peak and Pyramid Peak are at centre image.
Tongue Spur Summit 0457 Ailsa Mountains Caples Track Earl Mountains McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Ngatimamoe Peak Pyramid Peak Tramping
View of the Ailsa Mountains. Unnamed Peak Pt 1945m is at centre image; Pt 1760m is on the right
Tongue Spur Summit 0468a Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Ailsa Mountains - unnamed peaks Pt 1945m, 1930m and Pt 1786m
Tongue Spur Summit 0474 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Ailsa Mountains - unnamed peaks Pt 1665m, Pt 1695m, Pt 1777m
Tongue Spur Summit 0477 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Looking over McKellar Saddle to the Earl Mountains. Triangle Peak is on the far left, Ngatimamoe Peak and Pyramid Peak are on the right.
Tongue Spur Summit 0480 Ailsa Mountains Caples Track Earl Mountains McKellar Saddle Mountaineering New Zealand Ngatimamoe Peak Pyramid Peak Tramping Triangle Peak
View of the Darran Mountains and Ailsa Mountains from the valley north of West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m). Mount Christina is on the far left
Tongue Spur Summit 0484 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Looking up towards West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m)
Tongue Spur Summit 0486 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping West Steele Saddle
Ailsa Mountains - unnamed peaks Pt 1945m, 1930m, Pt 1786m and Pt 1760m
Tongue Spur Summit 0487 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View of the Darran Mountains and Ailsa Mountains from the valley north of West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m). Mount Christina is on the left
Tongue Spur Summit 0497a Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Ailsa Mountains - unnamed peaks Pt 1945m, 1930m and Pt 1786m
Tongue Spur Summit 0510 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Mount Christina and Mount Crosscut, Darran Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0511 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Mount Christina behind the bluffs below West Steele Saddle
Tongue Spur Summit 0514 Ailsa Mountains Caples Track Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Raoulia buchananii. Upper Caples River, north of West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m), Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0518 Ailsa Mountains Caples River Flora Mountaineering New Zealand Raoulia buchananii Tramping
From Raoulia buchananii
Raoulia buchananii. Upper Caples River, north of West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m), Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0525 Ailsa Mountains Caples River Flora Mountaineering New Zealand Raoulia buchananii Tramping
From Raoulia buchananii
Pt 2024m route topo. The picture is taken looking up - the top section is deceptively steep
Tongue Spur Summit 0528 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping route topo
View down Steele Creek West Branch. Pt 2096m (highest point in the Ailsa Mountains) is on the right
Tongue Spur Summit 0530 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Steele Creek Steele Creek West Branch Tramping
The west face of Jean Batten's east peak
Tongue Spur Summit 0535 Ailsa Mountains Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
The Ailsa Mountains above the West Branch of Steele Creek. Pt 2096m (the highest point of the range) is at centre image
Tongue Spur Summit 0536 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Steele Creek Steele Creek West Branch Tramping
Pt 2024m on right
Tongue Spur Summit 0537 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Ailsa Mountains, looking north from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Unnamed Peaks Pt 1945m and 1930m
Tongue Spur Summit 0539 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping West Steele Saddle
Darran Mountains, view from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Mount Christina, Mount Crosscut, Barrier Peak, Marian Peak, Sabre Peak, Adelaide Peak
Tongue Spur Summit 0540 Adelaide Peak Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Marian Peak Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mountaineering New Zealand Sabre Peak Tramping
Darran Mountains, view from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Mount Tutoko and Mount Madeline
Tongue Spur Summit 0542 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Darran Mountains and Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0544 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mountaineering New Zealand Sabre Peak Tramping
View from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Darran Mountains and Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0546 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mountaineering New Zealand Sabre Peak Tramping
View from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Darran Mountains and Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0552 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mountaineering New Zealand Sabre Peak Tramping moon moonlight night night photography night sky stars
View from the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch: Darran Mountains and Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 0553 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mountaineering New Zealand Sabre Peak Tramping moon moonlight night night photography night sky stars
Jean Batten Peak from the east
Tongue Spur Summit 0556 Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping West Steele Saddle night night photography night sky stars
Jean Batten Peak from the east
Tongue Spur Summit 0566 Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping West Steele Saddle night night photography night sky stars
Campsite on the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch
Tongue Spur Summit 0836 Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Aurora Aurora Australis Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Lights Steele Creek Tramping West Steele Saddle camp campsite night night photography night sky stars tent
Campsite on the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch
Tongue Spur Summit 0866 Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Aurora Aurora Australis Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Lights Steele Creek Tramping West Steele Saddle camp campsite night night photography night sky stars tent
Timelapse: aurora australis over the Ailsa Mountains. Click on image to play video
Tongue Spur Summit 0872
Campsite on the saddle at the head of Steele Creek West Branch
Tongue Spur Summit 0872b Ailsa Mountains Astrophotography Aurora Aurora Australis Mountaineering New Zealand Southern Lights Steele Creek Tramping West Steele Saddle camp campsite night night photography night sky star trails stars tent
View from the western slopes of Pt 2024m. Jean Batten Peak is at centre image. The Darran Mountains are in the background.
Tongue Spur Summit 0876a Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Jean Batten Peak Mount Christina Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Mount Christina and Mount Crosscut from the western slopes of Pt 2024m
Tongue Spur Summit 0880 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View from the western slopes of Pt 2024m. From left to right are Jean Batten Peak, Flat Top Peak, Ngatimamoe Peak, Pyramid Peak, Mount Charlton, Mount Suter, Mount Christina, Mount Crosscut, Barrier Peak, Marian Peak, Sabre Peak, Adelaide Peak
Tongue Spur Summit 0888a Adelaide Peak Ailsa Mountains Barrier Peak Darran Mountains Earl Mountains Flat Top Peak Jean Batten Peak Marian Peak Mount Charlton Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mount Suter Mountaineering New Zealand Ngatimamoe Peak Pyramid Peak Sabre Peak Tramping
On top of Unnamed Peak Pt 2024m (Tongue Spur Summit). The Darran Mountains in the background
Tongue Spur Summit 0925 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tongue Spur Tongue Spur Summit Tramping
View from Pt 2024m: Jean Batten Peak in the foreground. The Earl Mountains in the back, with Flat Top Peak, Ngatimamoe Peak and Pyramid Peak just right of centre image.
Tongue Spur Summit 0952 Ailsa Mountains Earl Mountains Flat Top Peak Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Ngatimamoe Peak Pyramid Peak Tramping
View from Pt 2024m: Unnamed Peak Pt 2117m (Humboldt Mountains) and Upper Peak. The Olivine Range is in the background
Tongue Spur Summit 0955 Ailsa Mountains Humboldt Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Upper Peak
View from Pt 2024m: Mount Christina and Mount Crosscut
Tongue Spur Summit 0956 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mount Crosscut Mountaineering New Zealand Tongue Spur Summit Tramping
View from Pt 2024m: Mount Tutoko and Mount Madeline. Pt 1945 (Ailsa Mountains) is in the foreground on the right
Tongue Spur Summit 0958 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Madeline Mount Tutoko Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping

Southern Alps Photography

Tongue Spur Summit, 30 - 31 August 2014

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