Mt Tyndall north ridge, Mt Aspiring National Park

I have ventured into Mt Aspiring National Park’s Matukituki Valley many times, taking a different route on each occasion. To gain this magnificent view of Mt Aspiring/Tititea and Rob Roy Peak, we climbed the Cascade Saddle Route and turned south along Mt Tyndall’s north ridge.

We hiked for 2.5hr along the ridge to reach the head of Isobel Glacier and the 2380m low peak of Mt Tyndall. It wasn’t possible to make an attempt on Tyndal’s summit as the early winter conditions made the route slippery and treacherous. It was near Pt2017 that we stopped and took the photo.

Even without reaching our initial goal, the journey itself was incredible and we were rewarded with views peppered by New Zealand’s highest peaks and rugged valleys carved by once immense rivers of ice that are now rapidly receding.

There are options to camp away from Cascade Saddle, near Cascade Creek – but beware the resident kea which we found to be rowdier than anywhere else we have seen the birds.

– Vitek Kocandrle