written by: Geoff WayattUNCROWDED
ASPIRING Hidden from general view and surrounded
by three
spectacular glaciers the classical
"horn" of Mt Aspiring dominates the
sky-scape
from the Hollyford to the Haast. The Bonar, the
Therma and the Volta glaciers provide
limitless moderate ski terrain but all drain to
the west hence retaining a mystic and
awe-inspiring vistas from general view.
For those persons willing to
put in the effort and time to tramp and climb for
two days from Wanaka to the Main Divide of Mt
Aspiring National Park's Matukituki Valley, in
summer or winter, the views are breathtaking from
either Bevan Col or Mt French. The valley floor
tramping is
easy and the views improve from spectacular to
awe inspiring at the valley head. There
are numerous camp spots and valley accommodation
at Cascade Hut and Aspiring Hut.
Mountain Recreation, School of
Mountaineering provides exclusive accommodation
and treks for small outdoor groups from its
Shovel flat base and beyond. Steep, rough
tracks lead from Pearl Flat to either Liverpool
hut (2 hrs) or French Ridge Hut (elev.
gain 900m - 2 1/2hrs+) Above these huts are close
vistas of active glaciers and
avalanching icefalls and a summer explosion of
alpine flowers.
JOFFRE CLIFFS: The easiest
alpine meadow access is to the upper valley under
the
Joffre cliffs two hours beyond Pearl Flat. The
track deteriorates towards the end of the
forest opening up into a bouldered meadow and
1300 metre walls or rock and ice,
streaming waterfalls and regular snow avalanches.
FRENCH RIDGE/MT ASPIRING VIEW:
From the valley floor a steep forest track
claws skywards over tree roots and short rock
steps. "If you can get over this, you'll
have done the hardest part of the climb"
encourages Geoff. \par Emerging at the Lunch
Rock viewpoint above the forest, the track
incline relented allowing for magnificent views
of Gloomy Gorge and Mt. Avalanche. After 3 hours
we reached the new Alpine Club French Ridge hut
and stopped for the night.\par Our attempt on Mt.
French started in the pre-dawn with another stiff
climb to the glacier ice of the Quarterdeck. Here
we roped up, donned crampons and wove up past
gapping crevasses to the final headwall.
Suddenly, there it is - the Bonar Glacier. We had
crossed the Main Divide into Westland. Thirty
minutes later we topped out on the snow summit of
Mt. French surrounded by the Southern Alps and
within arms reach of one of it's jewels, the long
glacial horn rising 1,000 metres above the Bonar
Glacier - Mt. Aspiring / Tititea - Shining White,
the Matterhorn of the South! \par In the past,
winter and spring months have been reserved for
the intrepid. In July and August the snowline is
low and soft and when sunlight is short the
valley is cold. However in clear weather, the
Matukituki Valley is enchanting in it's winter
snow-cloak, which seldom reaches the valley
floor.
TRAVEL TIMES: Raspberry Flat
roadhead to Aspiring Hut - 2 hours; to Shovel
Flat 3 1/2 hours; to Pearl Flat 4 hrs.Pearl
Flat:- To French Ridge Hut-2 1/2hrs+; to
Liverpool Hut-2 hrs; to the Joffre Cliffs cirque
- 1 1/2hrs; to Colin Todd Hut-7hrs. French Ridge
Hut to Colin Todd Hut - 5 hrs (walking)
Whether summer or winter, the
Mt Aspiring region provides a unique open valley,
forest, snow and glacier contrast. Beyond the
snowline on the glaciers surrounding Aspiring is
a world of stark expansive vistas for energetic
people with a Mountain Guide or private parties
with alpine skills.
Mt Aspiring Guided Treks
Email:
mountainrec@mountainrec.co.nz
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