1. Tramping and mountaineering in New Zealand
  2. Aspiring Region

Snowdrift and Barrier Ranges feat. Mt Lydia and Albert Peak, 21-28 December 2013

Like the previous three years, this year's Christmas break called for a long trip back to our beloved Aspiring country. Undeterred by a marginal forecast, we skirted along the edge of the Olivine Wilderness by traversing the Snowdrift Range from O'Leary Pass to Whitbourn Saddle climbing Mt Lydia along the way. From the Whitbourn we regained the tops above the Dart Valley by way of Key Dome and Blue Duck River, which we then traversed to Seal Col for a climb of Albert Peak. Day 1: Up the Dart to Cattle Flat. Day 2: Across the Dart via the Swing Bridge at Cattle Flat and up to O'Leary Pass, then to camp below Boys Col. Day 3: Climb of Mt Lydia and along the Snowball Glaciers to Whitbourn Saddle, then into the Whitbourn. Day 4: Pit day in the Whitbourn with pouring rain. Day 5: Down the Whitbourn and up onto Key Dome via a scrubby ledge leading through the bluffs, then into Bue Duck Creek. Day 6: Along the tops above the Dart to camp below Seal Col. Day 7: Climb of South Face of Albert Peak from Glacier Col. Day 8: Down the bush on the true left of the Margaret Burn and out to the road via the Dart Valley Track. Team: James Thornton and Nina Dickerhof
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  • At Surveyor Flat, Johansson Peak on the left, O'Leary Pass - next day's route - in the centre.
  • Slip Stream and the new Dart lake around Sandy Bluff.
  • Peary Peak above Cattle Flat.
  • Reaching Cattle Flat.
  • Camp at Cattle Flat.
  • Frosty morning at Cattle Flat.
  • Frosty morning at Cattle Flat.
  • Me on a deer trail making my way up to the tops below O'Leary Pass.
  • Reaching bushline, Dart Valley below, Mt Head on the left.
  • James checking the map, looking down the Dart. At this point we didn't know that 5 days later we would traverse these tussock tops all the way to Seal Col to climb Albert Peak.
  • James below the Main Divide near O'Leary Pass.
  • Me below the Main Divide near O'Leary Pass, Pass Creek directly below, Dart lake in the distance, Mt Head on the left.
  • Reaching the Main Divide above O'Leary Pass looking towards Mt Victoria and the Victoria Ice Fall draining the Marion Plateau.
  • Reaching the Main Divide above O'Leary Pass looking across the Joe Valley.Gable Peak centre left.
  • Looking towards our route to the Marion Plateau under the NW flanks of Mt Ian.
  • Making our way to the Marion Plateau under the NW flanks of Mt Ian.
  • Looking up the Joe from near the Marion Plateau.
  • Looking up the Joe from near the Marion Plateau.
  • Looking up the Joe from near the Marion Plateau.
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