Avalanche Peak
WARNING: Because of continuing problems (including fatalities) encountered on this route by walkers please take note of the following advise...
- WHEN THERE IS SNOW ON AVALANCHE PEAK IT CAN BE VERY DANGEROUS. MOUNTAINEERING AND AVALANCHE ASSESSMENT / RESCUE SKILLS ARE NECESSARY!
- This is a "day walk", leave early to allow for sufficient daylight hours.
- If there is a poor weather forecast do not attempt this route. If there is fog/cloud cover on the mountain turn around.
- TELL SOMEONE YOUR PLANS, and remember to let them know when you return safely.
- Take sufficient clothing, food, water & medical needs to be able to survive a night out in cold wet conditions. Search & Rescue activity should commence the day following your intended "out date".
- Test your cellphone in Arthur's Pass Village, if it works there, take it with you, it should work on all Village side aspects of this mountain, if you get lost or in trouble call 111. Don't waste your phone battery! Phones can be an unreliable way of getting help. Better still take a PLB with you as well (Arthur's Pass Visitor Centre hires them).
- If you become lost, retrace your steps if possible to refind the correct route (orange or yellow marker poles). If you cannot, find shelter (rocks, trees, tussocks), stay where you are.
- DO NOT push into the treeline too far except to seek shelter, there are large hidden cliffs and alternate ways down DO NOT exist. If you are not on the marked bush track (orange triangles) STOP!
- DO NOT follow streams/creeks off the mountain, many of these go over very large waterfalls or contain extensive loose rock.
- If you see searchers (helicopter, ground crews) or other walkers attract attention by moving to open ground, yelling, waving bright clothing. If you are injured leave something bright in clear view near you in case you lose consciousness.
Last Update: 15/6/25 20:00hrs NZST
General (Valley Floor)
Temp Now: -1.2ºC (Falling)
Windspeed: 0kmph
Wind Direction: S
Wind Gust (last hour): 0kmph
Wind Gust Max: 13kmph (02:58hrs NZST)
Wind Chill: -1.2ºC
Cloud Base: 818m ASL
Tree-line (1400m)
Temp Now: -5.6ºC (Falling)
Windspeed: 30kmph
Wind Direction: S
Wind Gust (last hour): 38kmph
Wind Gust Max: 38kmph (03:00hrs NZST)
Wind Chill: -11.7ºC to -14.7ºC
Snowpack: 23.9cm (patchy)
Current Weather: Frost.
Assessment: MARGINAL. Snow/ice present.
Summit (1833m)
Temp Now: -8.1ºC (Falling)
Windspeed: 35kmph
Wind Direction: S
Wind Gust (last hour): 44kmph
Wind Gust Max: 44kmph (02:58hrs NZST)
Wind Chill: -18.6ºC
Snowpack: 49.7cm
Current Weather: Frost.
Assessment: MARGINAL. Snow/ice present.
General (Valley Floor)
Temp Now: -1.2ºC (Falling)
Windspeed: 0kmph
Wind Direction: S
Wind Gust (last hour): 0kmph
Wind Gust Max: 13kmph (02:58hrs NZST)
Wind Chill: -1.2ºC
Cloud Base: 818m ASL
Tree-line (1400m)
Temp Now: -5.6ºC (Falling)
Windspeed: 30kmph
Wind Direction: S
Wind Gust (last hour): 38kmph
Wind Gust Max: 38kmph (03:00hrs NZST)
Wind Chill: -11.7ºC to -14.7ºC
Snowpack: 23.9cm (patchy)
Current Weather: Frost.
Assessment: MARGINAL. Snow/ice present.
Summit (1833m)
Temp Now: -8.1ºC (Falling)
Windspeed: 35kmph
Wind Direction: S
Wind Gust (last hour): 44kmph
Wind Gust Max: 44kmph (02:58hrs NZST)
Wind Chill: -18.6ºC
Snowpack: 49.7cm
Current Weather: Frost.
Assessment: MARGINAL. Snow/ice present.
Condition Images
Note: Red borders indicate the image is more than 10 days old!
18/11/2024Avalanche Peak (1833m) - Upper Avalanche Peak track
10/11/2024Avalanche Peak (1833m) - Scott's track
28/10/2024Avalanche Peak (1833m) - North Aspect
29/09/2024Avalanche Peak (1833m) - East aspect
04/05/2024Avalanche Peak - Rome Ridge traverse
HAVE A "PLAN B": If Avalanche Peak is out of condition with poor visibility/rain/wind, consider the Bealey Spur Track as an alternative. The weather can be much finer east of Arthur's Pass.
Area Brochure: Discover Arthur's Pass Booklet (19MB)
Route Guide: Avalanche Peak day route (1.6MB)
Map:
Click Here to open PDF File (660Kb).
Area Brochure: Discover Arthur's Pass Booklet (19MB)
Route Guide: Avalanche Peak day route (1.6MB)
Map:
Click Here to open PDF File (660Kb).
Avalanche Peak Track
Track Grade: Tramping Track & Marked RouteWalking Time: 3-4 hours to the peak. Allow up to 8 hours for the entire round trip.
Features: Waterfalls, Mountain beech and tussock tops, alpine views, 1100m climb.
location:The track starts in the far corner of the Helicopter Landing Pad (green field) beside the Visitor Centre.
The track climbs steeply through Mountain beech forest. In several places the track comes very close to Avalanche Creek and some stunning waterfalls.
The bush line is reached in 1.5 hours. IF VISIBILITY IS POOR, STOP, HOLD YOUR GROUND, IF THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT TURN BACK!!!!
From here the track is a route, marked with yellow-tipped poles. It follows the ridge up to the peak, joining the Scotts Track about 200m before the summit. The final ridge is a razor-blade with cliffs on either side, only venture out here if confident of heights, and the wind-speeds are low.
Return the via the slightly easier Scotts Track (orange tipped marker poles).
The bush line is reached in 1.5 hours. IF VISIBILITY IS POOR, STOP, HOLD YOUR GROUND, IF THERE IS NO IMPROVEMENT TURN BACK!!!!
From here the track is a route, marked with yellow-tipped poles. It follows the ridge up to the peak, joining the Scotts Track about 200m before the summit. The final ridge is a razor-blade with cliffs on either side, only venture out here if confident of heights, and the wind-speeds are low.
Return the via the slightly easier Scotts Track (orange tipped marker poles).
Scott's Track (Avalanche Peak)
Track Grade: Tramping Track & Marked RouteWalking Time: 6 - 8 hours return
Features: Great views of waterfalls, Arthur's Pass, Mt Rolleston.
Location:: The "new" start to this track is signposted at the beginning of the very first bridge on the Punchbowl track, this takes you up across the highway and onto the original Scott's Track. Do not walk up the highway as there is no longer a formed foot-path!
Scotts track is the best local track for views of village, Punchbowl falls and surrounding mountains.
The track climbs on an even grade up to boggy terraces which are reached in 1 hour and are a good place for views.
The track continues onto the bushline (1.5 hours). If visibility is poor at this point, STOP, hold your ground and wait for a possible improvement, if visibility remains poor TURN BACK! The best views commence about 20 - 30 minutes outside tree-line at an old metal survey station beside the track. It then climbs steeply following a route marked with orange tipped poles along a rocky ridge. Avalanche Peak is reached after 3 - 4 hours from the valley floor.
Scotts Track connects up with the Avalanche Peak track (yellow markers) just below the summit. The final ridge is a razor-blade with cliffs on either side, only venture out here if confident of heights, and the wind-speeds are low. The round trip is possible, but only in fine weather and good track conditions.
For the round trip it is recommended to go up Avalanche Peak track and down Scotts track as Scotts is a more gradual descent and easier on the knee joints.
The track climbs on an even grade up to boggy terraces which are reached in 1 hour and are a good place for views.
The track continues onto the bushline (1.5 hours). If visibility is poor at this point, STOP, hold your ground and wait for a possible improvement, if visibility remains poor TURN BACK! The best views commence about 20 - 30 minutes outside tree-line at an old metal survey station beside the track. It then climbs steeply following a route marked with orange tipped poles along a rocky ridge. Avalanche Peak is reached after 3 - 4 hours from the valley floor.
Scotts Track connects up with the Avalanche Peak track (yellow markers) just below the summit. The final ridge is a razor-blade with cliffs on either side, only venture out here if confident of heights, and the wind-speeds are low. The round trip is possible, but only in fine weather and good track conditions.
For the round trip it is recommended to go up Avalanche Peak track and down Scotts track as Scotts is a more gradual descent and easier on the knee joints.
