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.

View into the head of Fraser Creek from the summit of Pt 2024m. Somnus stands out in the background
Tongue Spur Summit 0959 Ailsa Mountains Fraser Creek Mountaineering New Zealand Somnus Tramping
The south-west face of Mount Bonpland (Humboldt Mountains) from Pt 2024m
Tongue Spur Summit 0960 Ailsa Mountains Humboldt Mountains Mount Bonpland Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View from Pt 2024m. Unnamed Peak Pt 2096m, highest point in the Ailsa Mountains, is the prominent peak right of centre image. The Livingstone Mountains are in the background.
Tongue Spur Summit 0963 Ailsa Mountains Livingstone Mountains Livingstone Range Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View from Pt 2024m: Ailsa Mountains and Thomson Mountains. Lake Wakatipu back left; Tooth Peak centre right.
Tongue Spur Summit 0964 Ailsa Mountains Lake Wakatipu Mountaineering New Zealand Thomson Mountains Tooth Peak Tramping
Panorama from Pt 2024m, looking south-east. Lake Wakatipu is on the left; Tooth Peak at centre image. Eyre Peak is on the skyline on the far right.
Tongue Spur Summit 0968a Ailsa Mountains Eyre Peak Lake Wakatipu Mountaineering New Zealand Tooth Peak Tramping
360° panorama from Pt 2024m, Ailsa Mountains
Tongue Spur Summit 1007
View into the head of Kay Creek from Pt 2024m. Upper Peak is on the far left. Sir William Peak and Mount Earnslaw are the prominent peaks just right of centre image.
Tongue Spur Summit 1008 Ailsa Mountains Forbes Mountains Kay Creek Mount Earnslaw Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Upper Peak
View into the head of Fraser Creek and Kay Creek from Pt 2024m. The prominent peaks on the skyline are, from left to right, Somnus, Unnamed Peak Pt 2117m (Humboldt Mountains), Upper Peak, Mount Earnslaw. Climax Peak and Destiny Peak (Olivines) are on the skyline at centre image.
Tongue Spur Summit 1012a Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Looking down onto Upper Caples Hut from Pt 2024m.
Tongue Spur Summit 1018 Ailsa Mountains Caples Caples River Caples Track Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Upper Caples Hut hut
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 1019 Ailsa Mountains Earl Mountains Flat Top Peak Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Ngatimamoe Peak Pyramid Peak Tramping
View down the north ridge of Pt 2024m (my ascent route) and into Fraser Creek. The prominent peaks on the horizon are Mount Tutoko, Mount Madeline (left) and Somnus (centre - right)
Tongue Spur Summit 1021a Ailsa Mountains Fraser Creek Humboldt Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View down the north ridge of Pt 2024m. Spot the rock wren (Xenicus gilviventris) at 2000m in the middle of winter.
Tongue Spur Summit 1031 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping Xenicus gilviventris rock wren
The summit pyramid of Pt 2024m
Tongue Spur Summit 1040 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
The Caples River from the north ridge of Pt 2024m
Tongue Spur Summit 1042 Ailsa Mountains Caples Caples River Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
The Caples River from the north ridge of Pt 2024m
Tongue Spur Summit 1044 Ailsa Mountains Caples Caples River Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
The east face of Jean Batten Peak - unclimbed
Tongue Spur Summit 1047 Ailsa Mountains Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
The east face of Jean Batten Peak - unclimbed
Tongue Spur Summit 1048 Ailsa Mountains Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
Campsite above West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m). The Darran Mountains in the background
Tongue Spur Summit 1053 Ailsa Mountains Darran Mountains Mount Christina Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping West Steele Saddle camp campsite tent
Campsite above West Steele Saddle (Pt 1623m). Jean Batten Peak in the background
Tongue Spur Summit 1058 Ailsa Mountains Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping West Steele Saddle camp campsite tent
Pt 2024m from the west
Tongue Spur Summit 1059 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping
View into Steele Creek West Branch from the saddle at the head of the valley, Pt 1623m. The highest point of the Ailsa Mountains (Pt 2096m) is just right of centre image
Tongue Spur Summit 1060 Ailsa Mountains Mountaineering New Zealand Steele Creek Steele Creek West Branch Tramping West Steele Saddle
Jean Batten Peak from the north. Pt 1970m is at centre image, Pt 1943m is the most prominent rock outcrop, while the high peak (1971m) is on the right.
Tongue Spur Summit 1075a Ailsa Mountains Jean Batten Peak Mountaineering New Zealand Tramping