Aerial photos of Mount Cook and a bit more.

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Messages 1 - 13 of total 13 in this topic

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Topic Author's Original Post - Dec 10, 2018 - 04:06pm PT

Angela and I are in Sydney waiting for a flight back to the States. NZ was great...We will go back again. Two days ago I did an aoerbic hike up Alex’s Knob (5.5 miles and 3,700 vertical one way) in two hours while Angela jumped on a scenic flight around Mt. Cook.

Ten days ago I climbed iconic Mitre Peak in Milford Sound...a bit spicy! It shoots up 5,500 ft. directly from Milford Sound.
Looking down on Milford Sound.
Ran into these raucous Keas a bit below the summit.
Angela enjoying some temperare rainforest.

Stewart Johnson

Mountain climber

lake forest

Dec 10, 2018 - 04:37pm PT

Brill.

climber

Just livin' the dream

Dec 10, 2018 - 04:39pm PT

Great photos!

Love them Keas...not your typical parrot. They'll pull the wipers off your car in seconds flat.

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2018 - 04:54pm PT

I ran into those Keas on a narrow ridge with mucho exposure. I knew their rep so I had a confab with them. I said I was okay with them if they were okay with me...they let me pass.

labrat

Trad climber

Erik O. Auburn, CA

Dec 10, 2018 - 04:58pm PT

I love that place! Headed Back Jan 9th...

guido

Trad climber

Santa Cruz/New Zealand/South Pacific

Dec 10, 2018 - 05:40pm PT

Jeff Foott and John Evans made the first ascent of the 5560 ft North side of Mitre Peak off the fiord in 1965 after spending the season in Antarctica working for NSF.

Several years back in NZ I met a kid named Fiord. Cool name and I was interested in the origin. He was born and raised on Milford Sound and had run tour boats for years before heading to the North Island. Foott and Evans were outright turned down by the tour boats for a ride out to begin the climb from the water. A friendly fisherman finally gave them a "lift" to the base of the wall.

For years Fiord had been telling the story of the Yanks bagging the first ascent of the iconic face of Mitre, much to the chagrin of the Kiwis! He was elated to hear the entire story and background.

It was reminiscent of those dreaded Californian climber Kamps and Rearick bagging the first ascent of the Diamond on Longs Peak. No parade for Foott and Evans!

Evan's AAC write up in 1966:

donini

Trad climber

Ouray, Colorado

Topic Author's Reply - Dec 10, 2018 - 05:51pm PT

Guido, I read about their ascent in a guidebook. I soloed the much easier east ridge. It definitely had it’s moments...steep tussock climbing where falling wasn’t an option.

Lynne Leichtfuss

Sport climber

moving thru

Dec 10, 2018 - 05:59pm PT

Angela is awesome, period.

Fritz

Social climber

Choss Creek, ID

Dec 10, 2018 - 08:32pm PT

Strong work & great photos Donini & Angela. How long before you are off to Chilling in Chile?

Tarbuster

climber

right here, right now

Dec 10, 2018 - 08:58pm PT

The aerial shots are thrilling and beautiful. Thank you Angela and Jim!
Sometimes I fantasize, were I to expatriate, New Zealand might be the place.

I saved the Sheila and Caroline images in my file: Mountain Portraits.

norm larson

climber

wilson, wyoming

Dec 11, 2018 - 05:09am PT

I especially like the view down to the sound. Quite different than where I am sitting here in Wyoming right now. Need to go there. I've never met a Kiwi I didn't like.