West Face

This steep seven pitch couloir provides interesting and rapid access to the North West Shoulder in winter and early summer conditions.

A pleasant, direct line up a 55–65 degree ice couloir topping out on the North West Ridge. In best condition from early summer to January. Approximately eight pitches.

The West Face, route of the first ascent of Aspiring in 1909, was not repeated until 1965, when Jill Tremain and lan Jowett made the second ascent.
Cross the schrund at the head of the access slopes from the Bonar Glacier and follow up the shallow gully in the centre of the face. A steep rock band cuts across the top of the face and this may be turned by climbing out, either on steep snow slopes to the North West Ridge, or by the couloir at the top of the South West Ridge