Possible New Route on Hopeless

26-28 October 2007
By Ron Stutter

Wellington section members Colin Cook, Marc Heatley, Helen Mitchell, Peter Shanahan and Ron Stutter, together with (yet to become section members) Stuart Hutson, Maree Roberts, Nigel Hubbard and Mark McDonald headed to Nelson Lakes National Park for an extended weekend.

The group planned to split up and head for Mt Hopeless, to complete a couloir and southwest ridge traverse (5), Mt Travers (2), and Mt Cupola (2).

After an outrageously late start, the Hopeless group had an eventful (some would say epic) day out when things didn’t go quite according to plan. Crossing above the bluffs from Cupola Basin and ascending the couloir was straightforward but things became interesting when descending the SW ridge. They drifted away from the ridge out onto the western face and then once the SW ridge was regained they decided to start their descent somewhat earlier than the route guide would suggest.

The slopes became excessively steep and bluffs intervened. To cut a long story short, a total of seven abseils later the group was back on easy ground and heading back for a very late supper.