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This article was first published in the Tararua Tramper Volume 79 No. 11, December 2007

Mt Hopeless

26-28 October 2007

Club members Colin Cook, Peter Shannahan, Stuart Hutson, Maree Roberts, Nigel Hubbard and Ron Stutter, together with Marc Heatley, Helen Mitchell, and Mark McDonald headed to Nelson Lakes National Park for an extended weekend. Once there, the group split up and headed for Mt Travers (2), Mt Cupola (2), and Mt Hopeless (5), to complete a couloir and southwest ridge traverse.

After an outrageously late start, the Hopeless group had an epic day out when things didn’t go quite according to plan. Crossing above the bluffs from Cupola Basin and ascending the couloir was straightforward but things became interesting when descending the SW ridge. They drifted away from the ridge out onto the western face, and then once the SW ridge was regained they decided to start their descent somewhat earlier than the route guide would suggest.

The slopes became excessively steep and bluffs intervened. To cut a long story short, a total of seven abseils later the group was back on easy ground and heading back for a very late supper. For a full report, with photographs, you’ll need to wait for the next Tararua Annual.

Party members: Colin Cook, Peter Shannahan, Stuart Hutson, Maree Roberts, Nigel Hubbard, Ron Stutter (scribe), Marc Heatley, Helen Mitchell, and Mark McDonald.

Category: Long weekend Nelson Lakes National Park