North Ridge Mt Sefton
2000m of Alpine Climbing in the Copland ValleyNorth Ridge Mt Sefton - Copland Valley
Nestled at the head of the deep Copland Valley, West Coast New Zealand, there’s a hidden gem, a true climb, a giant line, the North Ridge of Mt Sefton. With a vertical of 2000m, it challenges any Euro climbs! With a relative easy access for New Zealand ( understand 30kms approach… on a well formed jungle track ), good rock, steep snow/ice sections, complex glaciated descent… It’s a true mountaineering adventure, which only experienced alpinist undertake.
Imagine an adventure where you start from the sea, go all the way up to one the highest peak of the Main Divide of the Southern Alps at 3151m, and go all the way back down to go home!
This, fellow climbers, is the North Ridge of Mt Sefton, and is waiting for you!
CLIMBING/ROUTE DESCRIPTION
The route on the North Ridge Mt Sefton starts at about 1150m with some steep slabs and scrambling. Then after an easier section, the steeper and more technical part of the ridge starts. The line follows more or less the true edge of the ridge, with some sections on its East side. A nice bivouac platform at around 2600m is very welcome! From there, the ridge flattens a little but gets more exposed, to eventually gets steeper again to reach the snow and ice. From there few pitches lead to the top part of the West Ridge, then to the Summit of Mt Sefton itself.
Climbing difficulty
The North Ridge Mt Sefton is a challenging climb.
It requires an excellence fitness as the days are long, as well as the approach and the walk out!
The technical climbs is NZ 3+ // EU D+
The climbing difficulty itself is about NZ Grade 16 / French 5b max – Section of snow and ice around 60º
The climber should be cable to carry and climb with an backpack weighing around 12/15kg
Why Choose Summit Explorers ?
Years of guiding experience, safety focused, flexible and adaptative to your needs, fun, smiling…. Summit Explorers mountain guides are always going above and beyond for you to have the best trip and mountain experience!
Not sure if this climb is right for you?
We have help plenty of climbers and skiers to achieve their dreams, we can help you making yours come true.
Just reach out to us and will discuss together wether you are up for this trip or you will need to build more experience, we will help you to create a custum journey to achieve your goal.
North Ridge Mt Sefton
NZ$ 6590
4.5 Day Trip
ROUTE
North Buttress
DATES
November to January
CLIMBING DIFFICULTY
Expert
CLIENT TO GUIDE RATIO
1:1
Itinerary
Day 0. Meeting in Wanaka at 1pm – Gear check and drive to Fox Glacier – Night at Porter Lodge Accomodation at Fox Glacier
Day 1. 6am breakfast, then short 20min to the start of the Copland Track – after 5/6hrs walk, stop for lunch at Welcome Flat Hut. Another 4hrs walk to Douglas hut and we can finally rest, after a 26kms walk on the Copland Track!
Day 2. Early start and 1h30 approach to the start of the ridge. Then it’s about 1400m of climbing, at start easy then gradually steeper, to end up on a small platform at around 2600m. Bivouac here. Just a stellar long climing day!
Day 3. The last 600m of the ridge for breakast! At first an exposed ridge, then a steep snow and ice section, will lead us to the upper section of the West Ridge, then the Summit itself! Photos, snacks and we follow back the West Ridge to dropdown into the Douglas Neve, and after a complex crevasses avoidance navigation demonstration, we will reach the Welcome Pass, where we’ll drop down to the Tekano Glacier. Our Bivouac will wait for us at around 1700m on a nice grassy platform with an amazing view overlooking the Copland Valley
Day 4. We follow down the Bluewater creek track to the Copland Valley, then Back to welcome Flat Hut, then out to the Car Park 5/6hrs after leaving the hut.
On average it’s about 10/12hrs per day walk/climb
Dates & Pricing
North Ridge Mt Sefton
NZ$ 6590
Add-on weather day
NZ$ 650
DATES
November to January
Flexible dates
PRICE INCLUDES
- IFMGA/NZMGA Mountain Guide
- Ground transport from Wanaka
- Alpine Hut Fees
- All Meals and snacks
- Technical climbing gear
- GST
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE
- Personal equipment
- Appropriate climbing clothes
- Personal Insurance
- Cancellation Insurance
Frequently Asked Questions
EXTRA WEATHER DAY, WHAT IS IT?
It’s a NON-GUIDED day, to add-on at the begining and/or the end of your trip at the time of booking, to guaranty the availiability of the guide, in the event of bad weather and the trip’s dates have to be shiftted slightly. The price is per day and does not include accomodation or meals.
What If the weather is bad from my trip ?
The Southern Alps in New Zealand is a worldwide desired climbing and skiing destination due to its remoteness and wilderness beauty. Windows of nice settled weather between fronts are oftern in place. But as for all mountain ranges in the world, the Southern Alps also has challenging weather. After all, it’s a long, high mountain range located on a tiny island surounded by the Tasman Sea and the Southern Pacific Ocean…
Summit Explorers Mountain Guides are well experienced in judging the weather and conditions to provide you the best possible trip. They will go above and beyond to make the trip happen. But sometimes, it’s out of our control, so if the weather remains terrible and prevents the trip from happenning as originally planned, you will be offered a different location and/or climb. There will be no refund for bad weather and conditions. However, depending of the agreement and avaibility of the guide, an arrangment could be discussed to postpone the trip at a different date.
Terms and Conditions
Please visit our Booking terms and conditions page
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