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Sefton/Landsborough

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Hits : 224 Download as iCal file

From Thursday 27 December 2012
To Friday 04 January 2013
Cost: $NULL 

Trip Leader:

Mike Drake

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Phone: 522 4458 (preferred)

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Description  

Introduction

This webpage is a collation of all the emails, and should represent fairly closely the gear we are taking. Heather and I had a telephone discussion around ropes and avalanche gear. See notes in the text for further information.

The other hardware is my suggestion for Sefton based on my experience, and discussions with Ben Winnubst.

Please read and forward comments to me and I will update.

Note: '***' indicates information required.

People

Confirmed:

  1. Ruth Gray (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ***)
  2. Heather Tate (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 027 650 2968)
  3. Andy Morris (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ***)
  4. Dave Quested (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 03 5459379, 021 778 144)
  5. Mike Drake (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., 03 5224458, 021 1044928, Heather Spence: 022

 

Objective

Sefton (main goal), then Walk out via Landsborough.

[Note: Sefton is not everyones main goal.]

Costs

Vehicle: TBD

Mountain Radio: $??

Route

Helicopter from Karangarua landing at the head of the Horace Walker Glacier. Establish camp around Welcome Pass. Climb Sefton via the west ridge (2+). Return to camp and the next day attain the Horace Walker Hut via Wicks Col. Gain head of the Landsborough through Douglas Pass; via Mt Howitt, Mt Gladiator, or if the Douglas River is uncrossable via the north side of  Douglas Lake.

 

Heather spoke with Lydia Bradley a couple of weeks ago when we saw her at fox, and she said they went off the platform above Pioneer Peak, which is the easiest way so long as there is snow.

 

Plan

Stay NZAC Hut Fox Glacier December 26th [Mike organise]. Fly in with James Scott Helicopers. Leave both cars at the airfield. [secure?].

Heather, Ruth and Andy are leaving Christchurch around 15:00 and will arrive Fox Glacier township between 8 - 9pm. So Dave and I will have organised the code. We should arrive late afternoon, depending on how many coffees we have enroute.

Heather Spence will pickup if we do not fly out.

Day 1: Fly into head of Horace Walker Glacier (December 27th), and walk to campsite around Welcome Pass.

Day 2: Climb Sefton via West Ridge

Day 3: Horace Walker Hut via Wicks Col

Day 4: Landsborough via Douglas Pass

Day 5: 

Day 6:

Day 7:

Day 8: Advise Heather Spence progress and likely exit day 

Day 9: 

Day 10: Exit Landsborough

[Note: We have currenlty no Plan Bs if Sefton and/or Landsborough is not possible due to weather.]

 

Other Information

Canterbury Mountain Radio 03 3435020/ 021365618

James Scott Helicopters, Karangarua (Fox office) 03 7510866

Fox Alpine Guides 03 7510825 

 

Risks

  1. River crossings due to snow melt in early summer. Mitigate using standard crossing techniques, which also means using ropes. [Reference FMC river crossing using rope. Mike to add ***].
  2. Weather stopping progress down Landsborough. [Also weather preventing pickup by helicopter.]
  3. Crevasses, although unless there has been heavy snow the glaciers will be well consolidated. Mitigated by roping up for glacier travel. [Note: This would require carrying extra ropes.]
  4. Avalanches: Low. Snow will be well consolidated, unless a heavy snow dump. However, if there is a heavy dump we are unlikely to want to immediately enter the area.

Gear - Personal (Snow)

  1. 2 tools; axe and hammer
  2. Crampons
  3. Harness (lightweight)
  4. 2 non-locking biners
  5. 3 locking biners
  6. Descending device
  7. 3 prussicks loops
  8. 2 slings

Gear - Joint (Snow)

  1. 2 snow stakes [Mike, Dave]
  2. 1 30m 8mm rope [Mike]
  3. 1 Shovel? [Mike]

Gear - Joint (Snow) [TBC]

  1. 1 50m/60m
  2. Avalanche poles, transcievers and shovel per person. [My reading is that this equipment is not necessary given the stability of the snow pack at this time of year. This was confirmed by Ben Winnubst, who is a very experienced mountaineer.] 
[Note: After ascending and descending Sefton all the hardware becomes deadweight travelling down the Landsborough. It is important to gear ourselves for reasonable risks.]

 

Gear - Joint (All)

  1. 2 billies [Mike 5L, ?? ***]
  2. PLB [Andy]
  3. Spectrum tent (3 - 4 person) [Ruth]
  4. Two person tent [Heather]
  5. GPS; iPhone [Dave], Gecko [Mike]
  6. Cooker MSR Whisperlight with spare parts [Dave]
  7. 2.6L fuel [Dave]
  8. One Backcountry Meal (2 serve {any kind}, each person bring one)
  9. 9 dinners [Ruth, Heather]
  10. 9 breakfast for 4 people (Mike bringing own 9) [Andy]
  11. Maps covering; Sefton, Landsborough, Douglas route out, Welcome Flat and out. I will download likely routes into GPS [Mike]. Other people bring maps and sort out Fox.


Food

  1. Andy preparing breakfast (9) for four people (Mike provide own).
  2. Ruth and Heather providing dinners (9)
  3. Everyone provide one backcountry meal (2 serve)
  4. Everyone provide own lunch and snacks

Other Gear

  1. Dave not bringing his fancy camera. We don't need five cameras on the trip?

 

Actions

  1. Mike get Fox Glacier NZAC Hut code. [Alpine Guides open until 09:00pm]. Also Sam Mueller who manages the hut is in a caravan adjacent to the hut. According to Alpine Guide (Cloe) there are no bookings for the 26th. [Done. As much that can be until we arrive Fox and fill out a form.]
  2. Heather confirm flight for December 27th.

Fox Glacier Village NZAC Hut

 

  1. Divide up food
  2. Pool joint hardware and divide up
  3. Decide avalanche equipment (if any)
  4. Number of shovels, and take lightest
  5. Plan B options [Need maps, so would be good to decide before leave Nelson]

 

 

References

http://www.mountainradio.co.nz/bookings.htmlLinks

http://www.metvuw.com/forecast/forecast.php?type=rain&region=nzsi&noofdays=7

http://www.southernalpsphotography.com/Tramping/Mt-Cook-Westland/Mount-Sefton/10994140_MCjbt6#%21i=1002493045&k=WX2v3mN

http://highlux.co.nz/blog/2012/08/douglas-karangarua-valleys/

River crossing using rope techniques

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