West Ridge

Type: 
Alpine
Description: 
The three km long west ridge provides a slow but achievable route to the summit over ricketty stacks. The first two kilometres of the West Ridge are straight forward, providing enjoyable climbing over steepening slopes and ridges. From point 2200m, there is an unpleasant downclimb, followed by increasingly loose rickety stacks. This continues up to the summit headwall, which is reached after a couple of easy pitches, and a terribly loose rap to the base of the headwall. From here, two stellar pitches (16 & 14) go someway to redeeming what is otherwise a terrible route. The first ascentionists do not recommend repeating or descending this route, and instead recommend the South Ridge as a better descent option if a route on the SW Face tops out near the summit.
Pitch(es): 
#EwbankAlpine (Technical)Alpine (Commitment)Alpine (Mt Cook)AidWater IceMixedBoulder (Hueco)LengthBoltsTrad
1164-0mNo
Grade: 
4- 16
Quality: 
0
Gone: 
0
Length: 
0m
Bolts: 
0
Natural pro: 
0
Ascent: 
Pete Harris, Alastair McDowell, Jan 2016
UUID: 
defb22fe-1a78-46cf-bca7-8230e997cab7