Tragedy Col

The preferred access route from the Dobson to the Hopkins Valley but named for a fatal accident on the Dobson slopes on 1 January 1947. Access from the Dobson Valley floor is made difficult by steep bluffs which are best negotiated at a point near the upper edge of the large fan which pushes the river over to the eastern side of the valley. The route begins opposite Waterfall Hut and the beginning of the route is marked by a series of cairns.

Climb diagonally up the gentle western slope of the Neumann Range from a point directly behind the Richardson Bivouac site, to the lower part of the range nearly two km south of Prudence Peak. Descent to the Dobson Valley is difficult. The col is named for a fatal accident on the Dobson side in 1947. When descending this route (to the Dobson Valley) make sure you are far enough to the south of Prudence Peak, and then make for the prominent outlier [H37, GR 657 049]. Once off the upper snow slopes move diagonally south keeping above the bluffs. The gorge of the stream will prevent overshooting the cairns before the get-down route starts [H37, GR 661 039]. The col should be crossed early in the day before snow conditions deteriorate on the Dobson Face.