The Misty Mountain Hop>>>
FRANKLY FRANKLIN
Date: 29 - 30/09/12
Mission: Climb Mt. Franklin (Arthur's Pass)
Weather: Fine on the 29th, then a Southwest front rapidly approaching on Sunday and rain.
Crew: Ari and I.
Plot: Walked up the Deception Saturday arvo, stayed at Upper Deception hut. Left 4.15am and gained 1000m up a scree slope onto a chossy ridge. Dropped back down into Good Luck Creek and tried climbing a ridge before Lake Anna. Pulled out after realising it was a bit stauncher than Grade 2!. Found the Lake and then the proper ridge and got to the final summit ridge but the weather was deteriorating rapidly - really high wind gusts and blowing snow. Down climbed quickly and walked out. Gnarly bush bash back to Deception River and the rain began. Smoked the 12km in 3 hours. Key learning's - plan!!
ROLEY!!
Date: 22/09/12
Mission: Rome Ridge to Low Peak
Weather: Fine and sunny
Crew: Ari and I
Plot: We left the van at Coral carpark at 4.15am. Steep bush section followed by really good ridge travel. The snow was great - firm and great cramponing. We dropped off the ridge before the gap, which is the crux of the climb. Regained the ridge right in the gap and a short exposed section saw us back onto good territory. The rest was just good slog and as Ari was still feeling his big Barrytown night we left High Peak for another day. Low Peak (2212m) gave us superb views of Arthur's Pass. Descended down the Otira Slide and some splendid bum-sliding was had lower down.
Time: 7hrs return
TEMPLE BASIN MOUNTAIN WEEK
Date: 28-31/08/12
Mission: Temple Basin Mountain Week
Plot: Our tech mountain week saw 8 students plus Keith and Dave Williams head up to Temple Basin to learn how to handle ourselves in the mountain surrounds. Great week that involved crampons, self-arrest, pitching and anchor techniques, transceiver work, snow caving and ridgeline travel. We had splendid weather, good times with kea's and the boys (plus Alice!).
Crew: Ari, Jake, Alice, Ambrose, Dylan, Lenny, Ru and I.
Weather: Perfect and clear
NELSON LAKES SDL
Date: 17/07/12
Mission: Hopeless Cupola
Plot: With a week off for an SDL tramp we were looking around for a good mision. After discounting a Paparoas Traverse I hit upon Nelson Lakes National Park and some surprisingly high peaks to attempt. Anna was still hanging around and along with Teddy's brother Jason we left Tuesday and walked 25km up the Travers Valley to John Tait Hut. Next morning an early start saw us reach Cupola Basin Hut about 7.30am. We dumped gear and headed up Mt Cupola (2260m) on a stunning morning. After traversing a scree slope we headed up a wide gut and after some scrambling on rock reached some nice hard snow and summited at 11am. A careful descent and successful day. Next morning Anna, Ari and I set off to tackle Mt Hopeless 2278m. Anna turned back early due to a bad sleep and stomach cramps - so me and Ari pushed on! We went the wrong way and reached a bluffy ridge. Turning back we cranked up a steep gut and regained the main southwest ridge. Some awesome and gnarly travel later saw us reach another 5m bluff. Foiled! We thought about things and saw a long couloir ahead, but to get there involved dropping down a steep ridge which after examination we decided not to try. So there ended the climb and we retreated back, knowing we could come back another day. From there we cranked the walkout of 30km in about 6 hours. Awesome trip.
Crew: Ari, Anna, Jason and I.
Weather: Light southwest breezes - fine.
MOUNTAIN OATES
Date: 08/07/12
Mission: Oatey Goodness of Mountain Variety
Plot: Climb Mt. Oates (properly)! We started at 5am and gained me and Teddy's previous point about 9am, trying to stay focused with a beautiful sunrise providing pleasant distraction. Continued along ridge until we realised with disappointment we'd been bluffed out again! After some pondering we decided to backtrack, and after more pondering over time we decided to go for the summit by undercutting the ridgeline - the usual route. Some hard plugging by Teddy saw us across the snowfield in no time. Next was a calf-burning climb up a steep gut to reach the ridge below the summit. Finally a little rock climb to gain the summit and epic views of both coasts and the apostles of Greymouth.
Crew: Anna, Teddy and I
Weather: Still great with a light southerly breeze.
THE PHILISTINE PROPHECY
Date: 06/07/12FRANKLY FRANKLIN
Date: 29 - 30/09/12
Mission: Climb Mt. Franklin (Arthur's Pass)
Weather: Fine on the 29th, then a Southwest front rapidly approaching on Sunday and rain.
Crew: Ari and I.
Plot: Walked up the Deception Saturday arvo, stayed at Upper Deception hut. Left 4.15am and gained 1000m up a scree slope onto a chossy ridge. Dropped back down into Good Luck Creek and tried climbing a ridge before Lake Anna. Pulled out after realising it was a bit stauncher than Grade 2!. Found the Lake and then the proper ridge and got to the final summit ridge but the weather was deteriorating rapidly - really high wind gusts and blowing snow. Down climbed quickly and walked out. Gnarly bush bash back to Deception River and the rain began. Smoked the 12km in 3 hours. Key learning's - plan!!
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| Our turnaround point. Ari trying to avoid the blowing snow. |
ROLEY!!
Date: 22/09/12
Mission: Rome Ridge to Low Peak
Weather: Fine and sunny
Crew: Ari and I
Plot: We left the van at Coral carpark at 4.15am. Steep bush section followed by really good ridge travel. The snow was great - firm and great cramponing. We dropped off the ridge before the gap, which is the crux of the climb. Regained the ridge right in the gap and a short exposed section saw us back onto good territory. The rest was just good slog and as Ari was still feeling his big Barrytown night we left High Peak for another day. Low Peak (2212m) gave us superb views of Arthur's Pass. Descended down the Otira Slide and some splendid bum-sliding was had lower down.
Time: 7hrs return
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| Starting on the ridge at dawn |
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| Spent! |
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| Crux just after the gap. |
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| Middle and High Peak looking good |
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| Local Barrytown alcoholic Ari Kingan. |
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| Sluff on the slide. |
TEMPLE BASIN MOUNTAIN WEEK
Date: 28-31/08/12
Mission: Temple Basin Mountain Week
Plot: Our tech mountain week saw 8 students plus Keith and Dave Williams head up to Temple Basin to learn how to handle ourselves in the mountain surrounds. Great week that involved crampons, self-arrest, pitching and anchor techniques, transceiver work, snow caving and ridgeline travel. We had splendid weather, good times with kea's and the boys (plus Alice!).
Crew: Ari, Jake, Alice, Ambrose, Dylan, Lenny, Ru and I.
Weather: Perfect and clear
NELSON LAKES SDL
Date: 17/07/12
Mission: Hopeless Cupola
Plot: With a week off for an SDL tramp we were looking around for a good mision. After discounting a Paparoas Traverse I hit upon Nelson Lakes National Park and some surprisingly high peaks to attempt. Anna was still hanging around and along with Teddy's brother Jason we left Tuesday and walked 25km up the Travers Valley to John Tait Hut. Next morning an early start saw us reach Cupola Basin Hut about 7.30am. We dumped gear and headed up Mt Cupola (2260m) on a stunning morning. After traversing a scree slope we headed up a wide gut and after some scrambling on rock reached some nice hard snow and summited at 11am. A careful descent and successful day. Next morning Anna, Ari and I set off to tackle Mt Hopeless 2278m. Anna turned back early due to a bad sleep and stomach cramps - so me and Ari pushed on! We went the wrong way and reached a bluffy ridge. Turning back we cranked up a steep gut and regained the main southwest ridge. Some awesome and gnarly travel later saw us reach another 5m bluff. Foiled! We thought about things and saw a long couloir ahead, but to get there involved dropping down a steep ridge which after examination we decided not to try. So there ended the climb and we retreated back, knowing we could come back another day. From there we cranked the walkout of 30km in about 6 hours. Awesome trip.
Crew: Ari, Anna, Jason and I.
Weather: Light southwest breezes - fine.
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| Hard to beat that! |
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| Summit lunch jubilation. |
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| Looking down on Lake Rotoroa from Mt Cupola. |
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| Sunrise over Mt. Travers |
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| Ari outrunning a wet snow avalanche. |
MOUNTAIN OATES
Mission: Oatey Goodness of Mountain Variety
Plot: Climb Mt. Oates (properly)! We started at 5am and gained me and Teddy's previous point about 9am, trying to stay focused with a beautiful sunrise providing pleasant distraction. Continued along ridge until we realised with disappointment we'd been bluffed out again! After some pondering we decided to backtrack, and after more pondering over time we decided to go for the summit by undercutting the ridgeline - the usual route. Some hard plugging by Teddy saw us across the snowfield in no time. Next was a calf-burning climb up a steep gut to reach the ridge below the summit. Finally a little rock climb to gain the summit and epic views of both coasts and the apostles of Greymouth.
Crew: Anna, Teddy and I
Weather: Still great with a light southerly breeze.
THE PHILISTINE PROPHECY
Mission: The Philistine Prophecy
Plot: Teddy's girlfriend Anna, a 3rd yr Aoraki student was over for the week and come Friday with a dubiously beneficial day at tech planned, we decided to take the chance to climb a mountain with her. Left Greymouth at 6.30am and started climbing about 8.30am. After some steady work we worked our way up the left ridgeline only to be bluffed out by some bad snow and rock conditions. Still desperate to reach the summit we did some badass plugging and a little exposed crampon and axe work to gain the summit at 2.00pm. Cheers for the choclate Ari! And cheers to Anna for a mean day out and some instruction to boot.
Crew: Anna , Ari and I
Weather: Beauty clear
ALEXANDER THE GREAT
Date: 29/30-06-2012
Mission: Mt Alexander
Plot: Had a crack at Mt Alexander to satiate the mountain craving. Set off Friday at 3pm and walked to Camp Creek Hut, 2 hours tramp. Rose at 6.30am, left 7.10am. Thick snow up the ridge, then gained the tops and weaved through deep snow and broken rock. Beautiful views of the Grey Valley. We reached point 1795m about 12p,, ditched packs for summit attempt. But 5mins down the ridge got to an impassable bluff and as we had no rope had to abandon summit. Still a great outing and good burn.
Crew: Ari, Chris Tipper, Me
Weather: Fine, frosty, light southwest breezes
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| Looking towards the summit. |
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| Talk about plugging. |
THE ADAMS FAMILY
Date: 01-02/06/2012
Mission: Mount Adams
Plot: On Friday evening drove from Greymouth down to Whataroa to attempt Mt Adams at 2208m. After dinner at 7pm we tried to sleep, but excitement and the moonlit night proved too much for Ari, and after his prompt, we packed up and hit the track at 10pm - unsure of what lay ahead. We followed the river upstream, crossing multiple times and having a lot of fun walking and bouldering with headlamps turned off. After 2 hours we hit the bush, and slogged up some of the steepest terrain I've seen, until eventually we hit the tops at about 3am. We whacked up the "safe and flourishing" cheap chinese tent, and set a capacity record of 3 men. Come morning, we woke to cloud, and hopes were dashed. But after packing up the clouds parted to reval an alpine masterpiece. We continued up a steep ridge into broken snow and rock, and eventually put on the crampons to get to the 2nd summit at 2194m. We decided to call it quits here and spent half an hour enjoying the stunning panorama of the Alps, then began the downwards climb, eventually reaching the van at 6pm with burning quads - awesome first mountain.
Crew: Ari, Lenny, Me
Weather: Overcast and cloud to 1300m, above that fine with some high cirrus signalling an approaching front.
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Insane vista from the top
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| Me and Ari loving it |
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| Summit Pukana |
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| Looking back down the ridge to point 1545m |
FOXY LADY
Date: 16-18/05/2012
Mission: Fox Glacier Ice Climbing
Plot: One of the highlights of my year, we travelled down to Fox Glacier for three days of ice climbing. We arrived at lunch on Wednesday and headed straight up for a first taste. We were taught crampon and ice tool techniques and did a few beginner slopes. Thursday was glorious and we spent the whole day climbing and setting up top-ropes with ice screws and V-threads. Friday was more of the same with some more challenging climbs. Awesome weather and the beginning of my career methinks.
Crew: Group 2 (Alice, Logan, Julia, Hugos, Ambrose, Jake, Ari, Connor, Dylan and I
Tutors: Paula Roberts and Jamie
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| Double dino with the monsters! Photo: Alice Payne |
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| Base Camp on Fox Glacier Photo: Alice Payne |
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