Guideless Butress is a route I've been intending to do for a while, but have equally been scared that it's too hard for me. So it was great to get the opportunity with four wonderful people, David Ewing, Claire Purvis, Annie Glimour and Becky Gray. Well worth the very long drive from the deep south! March 13th 2021.
The route ended up being an excellent scramble with some scrub at the bottom and then some wonderful route finding moments on slabby rock higher up. Rope was not required. It's consistently quite steep, but with a stunning backdrop of Aoraki as evidenced in the photos below.
Heading up the valley with the first light on Mt Sefton
A super still Hooker lake and a distant Aoraki
A pause on the ridge scramble to share food with Aoraki as a stunning backdrop
David eyes up the route with Aoraki in the background
David enjoying a well earnt lunch with at the top of the range with Aoraki still in the background
Footstool and the surrounding glaciers
Team admires the view before turning their backs to head down the ridge
The silly team that is!
The grey brings out the contrast in the scree slopes at this time of year
Probably taking my love of black and white a bit far here.
