Tunnel Vision

9P | 250m | 24 | 80% bolted
Tunnel Vision opens the Portal Wall with nine pitches rising in difficulty and exposure – not to mention a 30 min approach, dips in the Infinity Pools and link-ups with the Moir classics.

Equipped by: Owyn Aitken, Jack Evans, David Macdonald, Ben Mitchell, Reon Morrison (+ others!)

Established with support from the NZAC Bolting Fund

Hazards:
The Infinity Pools and Upper Basin are exposed to glide avalanches, especially in the early season. The route itself is relatively protected.

Aspect:
NW facing with sun from 10:30-19:00. After a good rain, allow half a day for the rock to dry.

Gear:

• 1x 60m rope
• 12 QDs including 4 extenders
• Cams 0.2 – 2 (BD sizing)
• Wires small – medium (offsets handy)
• Togs & towel

Parking:
From the Milford side of the tunnel, drive 50m further and park at the first bay on the true right. Stow anything the kea militia might find interesting.

Access:
The chatty tunnel attendants sometimes hang about in a yellow Milford car. They assure us the "Do Not Enter" signs are purely a liability measure - but do say hello anyway.

Approach:
30 minutes of danger walking and scrambling. This would be a good place to have a tumble.

Edge past the tunnel entrance and sidle to the Infinity Pool. Weave up the true right of the cascade and cross at the Upper Infinity Pool. Climb the slabby rib (~15m), then follow cairns up a rightwards line.

Keep an eye out for a leftwards scramble onto David’s Massive Gorgeous Belay Ledge. The final section (~30m) is roughly grade 8 – abseil on descent.

Descent:
1x 60m rope: nine abseils down the climbing line. Most abseils nudge 30m – knot your ends.
2x 60m ropes: five abseils, linking pitches 8+7, 6+5, 4+3 and 2+1.

P1 → P4 make an ideal apprenticeship to multi-pitching in the Darrans