Ball Pass Area

Photo Gallery of the Ball Ridge, Kaitiaki Peak & Ball Pass, Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park.

Treks in the area: Aoraki/Mount Cook Trek (AMCT), Ball Pass Summit (BPS), Ball Pass Crossing (BPC).

 

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Ascent to Caroline Hut via Ball Ridge (AMCT, BPS, BPC)

  • Elevation profile: ascent to Caroline Hut via 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.
  • Keas on Ball Ridge.
  • South Island Edelweiss and Bluebell.
  • Early and late in the season you will likely experience snow around Caroline Hut.
  • Westerly storm clouds on the Main Divide.
  • Sunset over the Malte Brun Range.
  • Full moon rises above the Tasman Glacier.

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Ascent to Ball Pass & Kaitiaki Peak (BPS, BPC)

  • Elevation profile: ascent to Ball Pass and Kaitiaki Peak from Caroline Hut.
  • Early morning cloud in the Tasman Valley is promising a fine day.
  • Leaving Caroline Hut with the first sunlight.
  • Resting on top of Fergan's Knob along the Ball Ridge.
  • Ascending Ball Ridge.
  • In summer the Ball Ridge becomes a rocky scramble.
  • A spray of snow marguerites in full bloom.
  • Admiring the view of Aoraki Mount Cook from Ball Ridge.
  • Climbing the neve of the Ball Glacier towards Ball Pass.
  • Trekkers crossing the upper Ball Glacier with Mount Cook towering above.
  • Exploring crevasses on the Ball Glacier.
  • Nearing the top of Kaitiaki Peak.
  • The South Ridge and Caroline Face of Aoraki Mount Cook from Kaitiaki Peak near Ball Pass.

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Ball Pass Crossing & descent into the Hooker Valley (BPC)

  • Elevation profile: Ball Pass Crossing and descent into the Hooker Valley.
  • The South Face of Aoraki Mt. Cook and the western side of Ball Pass.
  • Descending to the "Playing Fields" in the Hooker Valley.
  • Negotiating rough scree on the descent to the Hooker Valley.
  • Enjoying a break on the "Playing Fields" in front of Mt. Sefton.
  • High above the Hooker Valley, Mount Sefton behind.
  • The long descent to the Hooker Valley.
  • Descending from the "Playing Fields" to the Hooker Valley below.
  • Trekkers in the Hooker Valley in front of the South Face of Aoraki Mount Cook.
  • 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.