Mt Aspiring Climb, New Zealand

22 February - 1 March 2007

 

All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2007. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission.

Day 2 - Climb to Bevan Col

23 Feb 2007

On Day 2 we laboured with our heavy packs up into the head of Matukituki Valley and then up out of the valley to Bevan Col. This climb involved climbing steep slabby rocks in a narrow gorge above the head of the valley. With our heavy packs we found this difficult, with a narrow series of disconnected slippery ledges on the steep slabs needing to be negotiated. Once past this obstacle the climbing became easier, and we advanced onto snow for the final haul up onto Bevan Col.

Once at Bevan Col we camped because the weather was so perfect, and this was a fantastic vantage point to spend a serene evening in the mountains.

Near the head of the Matukituki Valley, the river is crossed by means of this swinging bridge. It is at least a 20m drop into the churning waters below.

     
Rob Hynes crosses the swinging bridge.
     
During the morning we reached the head of the Matukituki Valley. The route from here is straight ahead and up to the right, following the steep and narrow gorge above the waterfall at the very head of the valley.
     
Greg Salway labours up the glacial morraine at the head of the valley.
     
Our climbing takes us above this spectacular waterfall. The difficult section of slabs is just ahead and to the right, in the narrow gorge.
     
Greg Salway stands on one of the narrow ledges in this section of steep rock slabs. Finding a route up between the disconnected narrow ledges was difficult with our heavy packs.
     
Chris emerges onto the broad sunlit uplands above the difficult section.
     
Chris emerges above the section of difficult ledges and approaches our sunny lunch spot.
     
Rob Hynes climbs towards the tongue of snow that extends down from Bevan Col. Soon we would rope up and put our crampons on for the final snow climb to Bevan Col.
     
Chris and Greg are roped up and climb on snow towards Bevan Col.
     
As we approach Bevan Col, we get our first daunting views of Mt Aspiring, dead ahead.
     
From Bevan Col, Mt Aspiring in all its glory, magestic in the perfect clear afternoon sky. We will climb Mt Aspiring via the North West Ridge, seen as the leftmost ridge in this photo.
     
In the evening, I climbed up towards Mt Bevan from the col, for great views back down the Matukituki Valley.
     
That evening, serene views out across the Bonar Glacier to the Tasman Sea beyond. Tomorrow we will cross this glacier and climb onto the ridge beyond, where Colin Todd hut will become our base camp for our summit attempt.
     
It was a beautiful evening to be camped out on this high col.
     
Here is my tent, nestled in among the rocks at Bevan Col.

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All content copyright © Ashley Burke 2007. Not to be copied, duplicated or used for any purpose without permission.