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A 20-hour visit to Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park during Easter 2008

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Author Topic: A 20-hour visit to Aoraki-Mt Cook National Park during Easter 2008  (Read 8640 times)
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« on: January 26, 2009, 10:59:54 pm »

On Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008, following the Warbirds Over Wanaka Airshow, I drove to Aoraki-Mount Cook National Park for a 24-hour visit. The weather was perfect — clear blue skies, sunshine, no clouds, no wind, and warm temperatures. Turning onto Highway 80 heading for Mount Cook Village, the Monarch of the Southern Alps — Aoraki-Mount Cook itself — was clearly visible up the Tasman Valley towering over everything else with the South Face bathed in early-evening sunshine. The mountain rises two vertical miles from the floor of the valley to the summit of the highest peak.

The following selection of photographs were all taken on Easter Sunday, 23rd March and on the following day, Easter Monday, 24th March. Because these are reasonably high-resolution photographs of moderate file size, each photograph is displayed in its own individual message. There are 131 photographs in total.



Hold your cursor over each photograph in turn to reveal a hidden caption containing more information than what is displayed beneath the image.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2009, 06:09:55 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged

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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2009, 11:02:12 pm »

First up, a photograph taken from Peters Lookout during the drive along SH80 to Mount Cook Village, then that is followed by some photos taken from my hotel room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge in the village.



Lake Pukaki and Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from Peters Lookout alongside Highway 80 at 6:47pm on Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008.

Lake Pukaki and Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from Peters Lookout alongside Highway 80 in the early evening of Easter Sunday.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:27:33 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2009, 11:04:15 pm »

Mount Hicks (St David's Dome) and the South Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from my room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge, Mount Cook Village at 7:35pm on Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008.

Mount Hicks (St David's Dome) and the South Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from my room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge, Mount Cook Village.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:30:10 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2009, 11:05:47 pm »

The South Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from my room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge, Mount Cook Village at 7:35pm on Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008.

The South Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from my room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:31:17 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2009, 11:07:28 pm »

The view through the window from my room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge, Mount Cook Village at 7:40pm on Easter Sunday, 23rd March 2008.

The view through the window from my room at Aoraki Alpine Lodge, Mount Cook Village at 7:40pm on Easter Sunday.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:32:19 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #5 on: January 26, 2009, 11:10:06 pm »

Easter Monday morning and the view from the balcony outside the guests' kitchen, dining room and lounge at Aoraki Alpine Lodge was amazing — the perfect place to sit down to a leisurely breakfast while taking in the surounding scenery.



Mount Sefton and The Footstool as viewed from Aoraki Alpine Lodge at 9:09am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008

Mount Sefton and The Footstool as viewed from Aoraki Alpine Lodge while enjoying a late breakfast and a couple of cups of coffee.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:33:50 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #6 on: January 26, 2009, 11:11:26 pm »

Looking up the Hooker Valley towards St David's Dome/Mount Hicks at 9:10am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Looking up the Hooker Valley towards St David's Dome/Mount Hicks.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:36:36 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #7 on: January 26, 2009, 11:12:53 pm »

The Monarch of the Southern Alps, Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from the Aoraki Cook Alpine Lodge at 9:10am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The Monarch of the Southern Alps, Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed from the balcony outside the guests' lounge at Aoraki Cook Alpine Lodge.
« Last Edit: February 01, 2009, 02:38:51 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #8 on: February 02, 2009, 01:05:43 am »

By 10:25am on Easter Monday, I was onboard a Pilatus Porter of Mount Cook Skiplanes, just after takeoff towards the south from Mount Cook Airport, turning 180 degrees to starboard and heading north towards the Tasman Valley.



Just after takeoff from Mount Cook Airport and beginning a turn to head north towards the Tasman Valley with the Ohau Range in the background at 10:25am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Just after takeoff from Mount Cook Airport on Easter Monday and beginning a turn to head north towards the Tasman Valley with the Ohau Range in the background.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #9 on: February 02, 2009, 01:06:52 am »

Climbing past the Sealy Range, heading towards the Tasman Valley at 10:26am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Climbing past the Sealy Range, heading towards the Tasman Valley.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #10 on: February 02, 2009, 01:07:38 am »

About to overfly Mount Cook Airport with Mount Sefton and The Footstool in the background at 10:27am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

About to overfly Mount Cook Airport with Mount Sefton and The Footstool in the background.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #11 on: February 02, 2009, 01:09:31 am »

Overflying Mount Cook Airport a few minutes after takeoff while heading for the Tasman Valley at 10:27am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Overflying Mount Cook Airport a few minutes after takeoff while heading for the Tasman Valley.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #12 on: February 02, 2009, 01:10:22 am »

Just before 10:30am, and I was winging my way up the Tasman Valley in a Pilatus Porter skiplane past Mount Cook Village, the massive two-kilometre-high Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook, over the terminal lake (complete with icebergs) of the Tasman Glacier, past the Ball Pass and the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier, and past the first of the glacier icefalls in the valley.



Flying past Mount Cook Village and up into the Tasman Valley at 10:27am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Flying past Mount Cook Village and up into the Tasman Valley
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #13 on: February 02, 2009, 01:11:29 am »

The massive two-kilometre-high Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook with Mount Tasman to the right as viewed at 10:31am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The massive two-kilometre-high Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook with Mount Tasman (NZ's second-highest mountain) to the right of the picture.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #14 on: February 02, 2009, 01:12:34 am »

The massive two-kilometre-high Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook with Mount Tasman to the right and the lower Tasman Glacier below, as viewed at 10:31am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The massive two-kilometre-high Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook with Mount Tasman (NZ's second-highest mountain) to the right of the picture
and the lower Tasman Glacier below.
« Last Edit: February 02, 2009, 01:11:57 pm by Kiwithrottlejockey » Report Spam   Logged
Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #15 on: February 02, 2009, 01:13:20 am »

The terminal of the Tasman Glacier with the lateral moraine wall on the true-right side of the valley in the background as viewed at 10:32am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The terminal of the Tasman Glacier with the lateral moraine wall on the true-right side of the valley in the background.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #16 on: February 02, 2009, 01:14:12 am »

The terminal lake of the Tasman Glacier complete with icebergs as viewed at 10:33am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The terminal lake of the Tasman Glacier complete with icebergs that have calved from the terminal face.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #17 on: February 02, 2009, 01:14:57 am »

Flying past the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier with Ball Pass visible and Pibrac to the right of the photo as viewed at 10:33am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Flying past the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier with Ball Pass visible and Pibrac to the right of the photo.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #18 on: February 02, 2009, 01:15:49 am »

"Flying past the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier with Ball Pass and Proud Pass both visible in the image as viewed at 10:33am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008."

Flying past the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier with Ball Pass and Proud Pass both visible in the image.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #19 on: February 02, 2009, 01:16:32 am »

Ball Pass and Proud Pass at the head of the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier as viewed at 10:34am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Ball Pass and Proud Pass at the head of the remnants of the upper Ball Glacier.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #20 on: February 02, 2009, 01:17:18 am »

The remants of the upper Ball Glacier with the eastern flanks of Nazomi at the right of the picture as viewed at 10:34am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The remants of the upper Ball Glacier with the eastern flanks of Nazomi at the right of the picture.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #21 on: February 02, 2009, 01:17:56 am »

One of the icefalls at the base of the Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook as viewed at 10:34am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

One of the icefalls at the base of the Caroline Face of Aoraki-Mount Cook — this flows into the lower Ball Glacier.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #22 on: February 02, 2009, 01:15:39 pm »

Getting further up the Tasman Glacier and flying past the Grand Plateau, the Hochstetter Icefall, Aoraki-Mount Cook, Mount Tasman (and the peaks flanking it on either side), and De La Beche Corner with the various peaks and high alpine passes above it.



Silberhorn, Mount Tasman, Lendenfeld Peak and Mount Dixon above the northern end of the Grand Plateau with the top of the Hochstetter Icefall draining the Grand Plateau also visible as viewed at 10:35am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Silberhorn, Mount Tasman, Lendenfeld Peak and Mount Dixon above the northern end of the Grand Plateau with the top of the Hochstetter Icefall draining
the Grand Plateau to the Tasman Glacier out-of-sight way down below the bottom of the picture.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #23 on: February 02, 2009, 01:16:33 pm »

The middle-reaches of the Tasman Glacier with the bottom of the Hochstetter Glacier visible as well as De La Beche Corner on the Tasman, the Rudolf Glacier descending from the Graham Saddle, De La Beche and the Minarets peaks mid-picture beneath the skiplane's wing, taken at 10:35am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

The middle-reaches of the Tasman Glacier with the bottom of the Hochstetter Glacier visible as well as De La Beche Corner on the Tasman, the Rudolf Glacier
descending from the Graham Saddle, De La Beche and the Minarets peaks mid-picture beneath the skiplane's wing.
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Kiwithrottlejockey
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« Reply #24 on: February 02, 2009, 01:17:50 pm »

Aoraki-Mount Cook — NZ's highest mountain, with (from left) the South Ridge, the Caroline Face, the East Ridge, the East Face, and Zurbriggen Ridge; with NZ's third-highest mountain, Mount Dampier visible (the small peak immediately to the right of Aoraraki), and with the southern end of the Grand Plateau also visible, along with the top of the Hochstetter Icefall at the lower right of the picture - taken at 10:36am on Easter Monday, 24th March 2008.

Aoraki-Mount Cook — NZ's highest mountain, with (from left) the South Ridge, the Caroline Face, the East Ridge, the East Face, and Zurbriggen Ridge;
with NZ's third-highest mountain, Mount Dampier visible (the small peak immediately to the right of Aoraraki), and with the southern end of the
Grand Plateau also visible, along with the top of the Hochstetter Icefall at the lower right of the picture. The Summit Ridge of Aoraki-Mount Cook
extends for one mile from the Low Peak to the Middle Peak and on to the High Peak.
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