Annette Plateau and Mount Kitchener, March 2017
The craggy upper section of Sebastopol Ridge, and the steep snow field/head wall to its right that we used to access the Annette Plateau
A spider web holds the morning dew at the Red Tarn
Above the Red Tarn, looking north to Mount Cook
On top of Sebastopol (1,468m), looking north over Wakefield Ridge to Mt Cook
On top of Sebastopol (1,468m), looking north over Wakefield Ridge to Mt Sefton and Mt Cook
Looking up Sebastopol Ridge, which leads to Mt Annette (2,235m). We accessed the Annette Plateau up the steep snow field directly to the right of the ridge. Mt Sealy (2,627m) is far left
Passing crags on Sebastopol Ridge
Looking back to the top 100 metres of the west side of Sebastopol
A view from Sebastopol Ridge, north over Wakefield Ridge to Mt Cook
A view from Sebastopol Ridge, north over Wakefield Ridge to Malte Brun
At about 1,600m on Sebastopol Ridge, looking back over Sebastopol to the Burnett Mountains. Nuns Veil (2,749m) is far left
At about 1,600m on Sebastopol Ridge, looking up to the glacier coming off the east side of Annette
On the north side of the craggy upper section of Sebastopol Ridge
On the north side of the craggy upper section of Sebastopol Ridge
At about 1,700m on Sebastopol Ridge, looking back over the craggy upper section to Sebastopol below
There are some steep sections on the upper part of Sebastopol Ridge
We even needed an adseil at this point to get past a tricky corner exposed to a nasty little chasm beneath ...
... Which we abseiled into
On the headwall right of Sebastopol Ridge. The very top was seamed with crevasses and topped out at about 70 degrees
Above the headwall that gave us access to Annette Plateau, looking east to the Burnett Mountains
Up on the permanent ice of the Annette Plateau at about 2,100m. We stopped here to replenish our water from afternoon glacier melt. Mounts Sefton and Cook dominate the northern skyline
At our camp site (2,150m) on the west side of Annette Plateau, beside a rocky outcrop that held nice little pools of drinking water, affording a superb view of Mounts Sefton, Footstool, La Perouse, Hicks and Cook
Dusk view north and east across the Annette Plateau, with Annette (2,235m) far right
Home for two beautiful calm nights
Dusk view of Mounts Sefton, Footstool, La Perouse, Hicks, Cook and the Minarets
Dusk view of La Perouse, Hicks, Cook, the Minarets, Elie De Beaumont and Tasman Saddle
3am view of Mounts Sefton, Footstool, La Perouse, Hicks, Cook, the Minarets and Elie De Beaumont
The Milky Way above our tent
Dawn view north
Dawn view north and east
Dawn view of Mounts Sefton, Footstool, La Perouse, Hicks, Cook, the Minarets and Elie De Beaumont
The suns first rays strike Mounts Sefton, Footstool, Cook, the Minarets and Elie De Beaumont. La Perouse and Hicks remain in shadow
Dawn view north and west to the Main Divide
Things are about to warm up as the sun breaches the eastern wall of Annette Plateau
Not a bad scene to wake up to!
A view from the western side of Annette Plateau, looking over the Metelille Glacier to Mt Sealy (2,627m - left), Sladden Saddle (2,344m), Mt Massey (2,436m) and the Main Divide
At about 2,300m on the south western rim of the Annette Plateau, looking north
At about 2,350m, climbing towards Barrow Col
A little north of Barrow Col, looking west across Metelille Glacier to Mt Massey
A little north of Barrow Col, looking west to Mike Neely and the Main divide
Looking towards Barrow Col (2,428m - left), Mt Sealy (2,627m - centre) and Mt Massey (2,436m - right)
Our high point at 2,450m, just above Barrow Col, looking north
In these dry, crumbling, difficult to protect conditions we weren't game to take on this route over Barrow Col to Sealy
So we settled for a circumnavigation of Annette Plateau - the remainder of our day's effort lies ahead
Descending the crags north east of Barrow Col, with Mt Annette between us and Mt Cook
Approaching the south side of Mt Annette (2,235m)
A view from Annette, looking down the steep headwall we climbed the day before to access the plateau
Looking across the Annette Plateau from its northern end to Mt Sealy (centre) and the Main Divide (right)
Another beautiful dusk
Heading north as we exit the Annette Plateau
Heading north as we exit the Annette Plateau
Back on the rocky ridgeline on the north eastern end of the plateau, leading towards Mt Kitchener (2,042m), with Mt Cook behind
Just above Waihi Pass (1,931m), with Kitchener beyond
The terrain all along this route was very crumbly and loose, so we took the rope option down this chute
The terrain all along this route was very crumbly and loose, so we took the rope option down this chute
Trying to figure out just where the route to the top of Kitchener was - not here at least!
Trying to figure out just where the route to the top of Kitchener was - not here at least!
Backing off a route that was beyond us
From near the top of Kitchener, looking back south to Annette Plateau. Mueller Glacier is on the right
At the bottom of the crux section of our route
At the bottom of the crux section of our route
At the top of the crux section of our route
At the top of the crux section of our route
The summit of Mt Kitchener (2,042m)
Beginning our descent on the eastern side of Kitchener
At about 1,900m on our descent on the eastern side of Kitchener
Taking a breather beneath Kitchener, at a point where we felt we had a doable route back down to Mt Cook village
At about 1,700m on our descent on the eastern side of Kitchener
This treacherous little spur was between us and a gigantic scree and rock chute leading all the way to the valley floor 1,000 metres below
Looking down our exit chute - unfortunately for us, more loose rock than scree. It took us about 4 hours to get from this point down to the Hermitage - hard to believe looking at the photo, but the scale of the landscape is far bigger than it appears. Note the tiny pale green tussock triangle on the left, just before the end of the chute ...
... because here it is again, viewed from the road next day. Our descent from Kitchener is traced in red
Read about it – Humbled again. A visit to Annette Plateau Vertigo Apr 17 If you think Mueller Hut is spectacular Wilderness Magazine June 2017
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