November 3-21 2012
Simon Bell, Rob Hawes and two NZAC members intended to do a grand traverse of Mt Cook from the Hooker Glacier side, followed by a traverse of the southern alps using Mt Tasman. They arranged for food drops to be made at Plateau and Pioneer Huts, so enabling an extended, helicopter-free trip in the park.
The party walked up the Hooker Glacier and climbed the low peak of Mt Cook. They got some way along the summit ridge to the high peak. However, encountered severe ice on the summit ridge, stopping the grand traverse and forcing them back down to the Hooker valley.
Unfazed, they decided to cross to the Grand Plateau using Green Saddle instead. From there they successfully climbed the Syme Ridge of Mt Tasman and descended to the Fox neve via Mt Lendenfeld.
After some more climbing from Pioneer Hut, they all walked out to Fox Glacier from Pioneer hut.
Well done folks!
Pictures and captions by Simon Bell:
- Party
- Rob Hawes (leader), Simon Bell, Steve Dowall (NZAC), Lisa Wynne (NZAC)
