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West Face

Type
Part of

Classic climbs. Many variations exist on the face. The far left buttress, the gully between the buttresses, and a narrow gully right of the Right Buttress have all been climbed. The most prominent routes are:

Aspect
West
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Routes

Reference Title Grade Length Pro Quality Alert Operations
11.67 11.67Left Buttress, III,3+,10,3+ III,3+,10,3+ 0m
1.02

From the névé, 200m of pleasant scrambling on good rock (crux 10), followed by 40-degree snow slopes and final exit gullies onto the South Summit. Superb.


  • P1
  • 10
  • Alpine (Technical) 3+
  • Alpine (Commitment) III
  • Alpine (Mt Cook) 3+

11.68 11.68Right Buttress, III,4,12,4- III,4,12,4- 0m
1.02

This route has excellent rock climbing. It’s best to follow a weakness on the right side (crux 12), although the centre of the buttress has been used (crux 15). Follow the snow slope to exit onto the South Summit. In 1967, this route was a major psychological breakthrough in face climbing and was heralded as a classic.


  • P1
  • 12
  • Alpine (Technical) 4
  • Alpine (Commitment) III
  • Alpine (Mt Cook) 4-

Excellent rock climbing, best followed up a weakness on the right side (crux 12), although the centre of the buttress has been used (crux 15). Follow the snow slope to exit onto the South Summit.


Comments
Attribution
Alex Palman
UUID
 
fe3a8ece-72a4-4f2e-a7e9-4b84a2f5d67f