A tramper’s
peak near
THE CLOUD
PIERCER
Higherup,a moredistinctnarrow
rockyridgeformswiththeoddscram-
blerequired.Thesummitis quickly
gainedaftera briefdipto a saddle
betweentwohighpoints.
The views are, quite simply, superb.
To the north are the high snow and
ice covered peaks, extending from Mt
Sefton around to Aoraki, and then fur-
ther west to the mountains at the head
of the Tasman and Murchison glaciers.BOASTING NEW ZEA-
LAND’S highest peaks, expan-
sive skies, turquoise lakes, dynamic
glaciers and braided rivers, Aoraki/
Mt Cook National Park is a mecca
for climbers wishing to scale high
mountains. But with many short,
easy walking trails, most people,
even with very limited outdoor skills,
can experience the grandeur and
majesty of this national park.
For those who want something
more than the popular tourist walks,
but lack mountaineering skills, an
ascent of Sebastopol provides
trampers with the chance to stand
atop a mountain in the shadow of
Aoraki/Mt Cook – the cloud piercer.
At 1468m, Sebastopol is not a huge
peak by Aoraki standards but it’s a
satisfying climb with the reward of
spectacular panoramic views.
The route initially follows the
Red Tarns Track, which starts
at Mt Cook Village shelter. This
well-formed track, with hundreds
of steps, climbs steeply to the Red
Tarns, a popular destination in its
own right. Continue on to the next
terrace to the McNulty Tarns by
following the rough track up the
scrubby ridge to the east or the trail
through the scree (which is prob-
ably a better descent route). From
here, there is further steep climbing
up tussock, scrub and scree-cov-
ered slopes, following an unmarked
but obvious track (when not snow-
covered).
Sebastopol, Aoraki/
Mt Cook National Park
Approaching the summit of
Sebastopol from the saddle
on the ridge, with the Tasman
Valley and Lake in the distanceJO STILWELL