Author: ataltitudetrips

Phipps Peak via South Face & Mount Temple Traverse

October 30, 2016

Date: October 30, 2016 Distance: 13.4 km Max Elevation: 1970 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1282 m Time: 8.5 hours Success: Yes Summits: 2 Partners: Chris Hill Grade: 2+ (NZ Grade) See full photo album This weekend I finally linked up with a climber who I have been chatting with for weeks. Several times we made a plan to go somewhere, and then poor weather made … More Phipps Peak via South Face & Mount Temple Traverse

O’Malley, Mount

October 27, 2016

Date: October 27, 2016 Distance: 11.3 km Max Elevation: 1767 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1396 m Time: 9 hours Success: Yes Summits: 1 Partners: Evan Davies Grade: 1- (NZ Grade) See full photo album Like me, Evan has come to Arthur’s Pass to get his feet wet (literally and figuratively) with NZ mountaineering. Being from the UK, Evan has not … More O’Malley, Mount

Castle Hill Peak

October 26, 2016

Date: October 26, 2016 Distance: 14.9 km Max Elevation: 1998 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1353 m Time: 5.5 hours Success: Yes Summits: 1 Partners: Graeme Kates Grade: 1- (NZ Grade) See full photo album If you always wait for perfect weather, you will never get anything done in Arthur’s Pass. Graeme, who authors the mountaineering guidebook for Arthur’s Pass, was planning to head … More Castle Hill Peak

Murchison, Mount via White Glacier

October 23, 2016

Date: October 22-23, 2016 Distance: 52.9 km Max Elevation: 2417 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 2279 m Time: 2 days Success: Yes Summits: 1 Partners: Roi Gapuzan, Ben Gibbins Grade: 1+ (NZ Grade) See full photo album No, my Canadian friends, this was not an ascent of the fabled 11,000er in Saskatchewan Crossing. Rather it was an ascent of the highest peak in Arthur’s Pass National … More Murchison, Mount via White Glacier

Bealey Spur Summit

October 19, 2016

Date: October 19, 2016 Distance: 25.9 km Max Elevation: 1907 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1646 m Time: 6 hours Success: Yes Summits: 1 Partners: Solo Grade: Easy See full photo album I had intended to spend this afternoon preparing for my climb this weekend, but when the sun started burning off the clouds, I was not about to waste the opportunity to get outside. … More Bealey Spur Summit

Cassidy, Mount and Blimit

October 7, 2016

Date: October 7, 2016 Distance: 9.9 km Max Elevation: 1918 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1340 m Time: 4.5 hours Success: Yes Summits: 2 Partners: Solo Grade: Moderate See full photo album The skies finally cleared in Arthur’s Pass after over a week of constant rain. The break in clouds would be short-lived so I decided to get out despite a fairly busy … More Cassidy, Mount and Blimit

Castle Hill

October 1, 2016

Date: October 1, 2016 Time: 5 hours Partners: Dave Hegan, Carolyn, Flo, Kyle Marr Grade: V3 This was the first of many trips to Castle Hill. The weather tends to be better here than in Arthur’s Pass, so it has become my go-to spot for poor weather days. The bouldering here is hard and smeary; you don’t look good … More Castle Hill

Rolleston, Mount (Low Peak) via Rome Ridge

September 30, 2016

Date: September 30, 2016 Distance: 10.1 km Max Elevation: 2210 m Cumulative Elevation Gain: 1201 m Time: 7.5 hours Success: Yes Summits: 1 Partners: Kyle Marr Grade: 2- (NZ Grade) See full photo album I finally got to bust out my technical ice tools for the first time since June. Given what I have learned about New Zealand mountaineering, it will probably not … More Rolleston, Mount (Low Peak) via Rome Ridge