Mt Travers

Paul and I doing the Gunsight Pass trip and climbing Travers by the NW Ridge. We aimed to bivvy out.

Friday 24/01/2003
Paul arrived in Nelson, I picked him up at the airport. Went and did a brief shopping and then off to Lake Rotoiti
1330 Water Taxi up to Coldwater hut.
Walked to Johnnie Tait and stopped for tea at five'ish. Off to Cupola hut, got there and it started to rain. We stayed here and didn't head off for Gunsight bivvy rock. 

Saturday 25/01/2003
1015 Left Cupola with all our gear and walked to Gunsight pass.
Down the other side and headed along the scree towards a saddle that gives access to Travers via the broad West gully. Get a good view looking back at Cupola.

The rock is quite broken and sharp below the saddle NW of Travers.

Almost had to turn back at 2100 m due to a small rock step in our gulley. There are some quartz crystals here, none longer than 10 mm. Hassled Paul into coming, wont detail the persuasion technique used.

1700 Me and Paul got onto the final ridge that heads to the top of Travers. Looking at Cupola on the left and Hopeless on the right, just touching the clouds.

 

 This view is looking down to Upper Travers hut, approx 1000 meters down.

And Paul on what we call the top having a snack. Looks like some sort of trig or survey mark was once here.

Meet three others from Wellington, they came up the East ridge. We headed down to Summit creek, got to the bivvy rock and decided to head down to Johnnie.

Sunday 26/01/2003
Left John Tait and headed down river, weather clearing on our last day. Much better views, can see Travers cloud free.

Got out to Coldwater hut in time to catch Bill's water taxi. Then back to Nelson.

Map showing Gunsite Pass and route up Travers.