Aoraki/Mount Cook - South Face

Incredibly complex, the south and west aspects of Aoraki/Mount Cook offer world class alpine adventures, complete with crevassed glacier travel, hanging seracs, and endless alpine ridges. It is served by the Empress Hut, a spartan shelter which gives access to a true alpine wonderland. Download: Medium resolution, personal use only Route List 1: West Ridge Divide, IV, 3+, H. Ayres, O. Coberger, 02/1951 2: Dingle-Button, II, 3+, R. Button, G. Dingle, 06/1979 3: Heaven's Door, V, 5+, R. Braddock, K. Logan, 01/1983 4: The Curver, V, 6, N. Cradock, T. Sorenson, K. Brown, S. Fortune, L. Clay, R. Kirk, 1979-2013 5: Gunbarrels*, V, 7, B. Denz, P. Herron, M. Judge, 06/1975 6: Left Buttress, VI, 5, G. Dingle, M. Jones, 12/1970 7: Central Gullies, V, 5, B. Denz, P. Gough, E. Kummer, 11/1972 8: Logan's Run, V, 6+, K. Logan, P. Sinclair, 12/1983 9: The Tingler, IV, 6+, D. Fearnley, J. McCallum, 10/1987 10: Right Buttress, V, 5, G. Dingle, N. Sissons, 12/1972 11: Hicks-Dampier Ridge, IV, 3, S. Brookes, J. Cox, M. Edgar-Jones, 01/1938 12: Right Icefields, IV, 4+, M. Browne, K. Woodford, 11/1972 13: Hicks-Dampier Couloir, IV, 4+, S. Sweeney, D. Waugh, 01/1972 14: Fantini-Deignan, V, 4+, T. Dignan, J. Fantini, 01/1987 15: Maori Route, V, 4+, N. Kagan, M. Whetu, 02/1983 16: Lower Earle Ridge, III, 3 17: Empress Icefall, III, 3 18: Earle Ridge, V, 3+, J. Clarke, L. Earle, A. Graham, P. Graham, 03/1909 19: Perry St, V, 4+, M. Perry, T. Streat, 11/1979 20: Summer of '69, V, 4+, R. Coombs, K. Henshall, B. Dawkins, S. Thompson, 12/1969 21: Don't Call Me Dude, III, 5, P. Dickson, 02/1992 22: The Shield, VI, 4+ 23: Original Route, V, 4+, P. Barcham, D. Herron, G. McCallum, R. Tornquist, 12/1956 24: West Ridge, IV, 3+, P. Graham, H. Sillem, 03/1906 25: The Creamer, III, 4+, J. Kippax, J. Smith, 01/1990 26: Sweet Dreams, III, 4+, A. Harris, M. Roberts, P. Sinclair, 12/1983 27: Wet Dream, IV, 4+, K. Logan, 02/1983 28: White Dream, IV, 4+, C. Brodie, N. Perry, 12/1980 29: Slovenian Route, V, 4, V. Furlan, 01/1994 30: Aoraki Grand Traverse, V, 3+, F. du Faur, P. Graham, D. Thomson, 01/1913 31: Original Route, VI, 3+, J. McKinnon, J. Milne, R. Stewart, P. Strang, 11/1962 32: Direct, VII, 4, B. Denz, 11/1972 33: The Gates of Steel, VII, 5, B. Denz, N. Perry, 01/1981 34: David and Goliath, VII, 5, P. Aubrey, P. Axford,11/1987 35: Pounamou, VI, 4+, E. Braun-Elwert, M. Schmidt, 10/2011 36: Nerve Runner, VII, 5, N. Cradock, B. Dyson, 12/1987 37: Romeo and Juliet, VI, 4+, L. Clay, A. Palmer, 12/1987 38: Sodom and Gomorrah, V, 5, B. Alder, D. Vass, 11/1988 39: Remembrance, V, 6, B. Dare, 11/2017 40: Hillary Ridge, V, 3, R. Adams, H. Ayres, E. Hillary, M. Sullivan, 01/1948 41: Gledhill Buttress, IV, 5, A. Gledhill, G. Gledhill, 02/1973 42: Terminator, IV, 6, H. Dunn, R. Staszewski, 02/1985 43: Tom and Bill, IV, 4+, A. Daly, B. Wilson, 01/1988 44: Nazomi-Hillary Ridge, R. Adams, H. Ayres, E. Hillary, M. Sullivan, 01/1948 45: Northwest Face of Nazomi, III, 3, F. du Faur, A. Graham, P. Graham, 03/1912 Sources “Aoraki Tai Poutini, A Guide for Mountaineers,” Rob Frost, NZAC, 2018 “Seeking the Light,” Gavin Lang, Potton & Burton, 2022 “Aoraki Mount Cook, A Guide for Mountaineers,” Alex Palman, NZAC, 2001 ClimbNZ New Zealand Alpine Club Planet Mountain AAJ Ben Dare Updates May 11, 2026: First version published.