Rabbiters Peak

Crew: Cath, Doug, Cam Martin, Kaleb Anderson, Patrick Hartley, Nick Robilliard

Due to the conditions on the standard slope up Rabbiters Peak being a bit avalanchey with the fresh snow, we decided to rather try scramble up the ridgeline of the un-named peak to the South of Rabbiters. We didn’t bag any summits this day, but we learnt a lot about climbing in early winter snow conditions. Taking turns to kick waist deep steps into the snow and navigating around steep snowy bluffs, avoiding cornices and wind-blown slabs. It was great to be with a crew who knew a bit more about avalanche terrain so that we could learn a bit more.

We hiked in to the North temple Basin from the Temple Stream carpark on Friday evening (about 5km/1.5 hours). On Saturday morning we left the campsite at 5.30am and bushwacked through some THICK forest to the snowline. The sun rose at about 8.30, just as we were topping out at the ridge line. From there it was crampons on and axes out, followed by some navigating up the ridgeline. When we saw the condition of the standard slope up to Rabbiters Peak we decided to keep to the ridgeline of the adjacent peak and see how far we could get. We didn’t get very far! We turned back at about 2pm and made it down and out just in time for sunset beers in the carpark. Another great day out in the mountains with an almost summit.