Ball Pass

Photo Gallery of the Ball Pass Alpine Trek, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

 

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Day 1 - Ascent to Caroline Hut via the Ball Ridge

  • Well-known New Zealand artist Austin Deans taking a breather after the scramble up from the old Ball Shelter.
  • Taking a rest after climbing up onto the Ball Ridge.
  • Climbing up the Ball Ridge.
  • After some steep climbing the Ball Ridge levels out.
  • A spray of snow marguerites in full bloom.
  • South Island Edelweiss and Bluebell.
  • Westerly storm clouds on the Main Divide.
  • Full moon rises above the Tasman Glacier.

 

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Day 2 - Ascent of Kaitiaki Peak & learning basic mountaineering techniques

  • Early morning cloud in the Tasman Valley is promising a fine day.
  • Leaving Caroline Hut with the first sunlight.
  • Early and late in the season you will likely experience snow around Caroline Hut.
  • Resting on top of Fergan's Knob along the Ball Ridge.
  • Climbing the neve of the Ball Glacier towards Ball Pass.
  • Trekkers crossing the upper Ball Glacier with Mount Cook towering above.
  • The South Ridge and Caroline Face of Aoraki Mount Cook from Kaitiaki Peak near Ball Pass.
  • Mount Tasman through Cinerama Col. View from Caroline Hut.

 

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Day 3 - Crossing Ball Pass & descending into the Hooker Valley

  • Descending from Ball Pass towards the Hooker Valley, Aoraki Mount Cook behind.
  • High above the Hooker Valley, Mount Sefton behind.
  • The Hooker Valley is a botanist's paradise and offers unsurpassed views of the south face of Aoraki Mount Cook
  • Tramping through lush alpine vegetation on the last leg of the journey.
  • Aoraki Mount Cook as seen from the lower Hooker Valley.
  • Mount Sefton and Footstool as seen at journey's end near Aoraki Mount Cook village.