Mt Aspiring was named Tititea (‘glittering peak’) by New Zealand Maori and is often referred to as the ‘Matterhorn of the South’.
This beautiful mountain offers various routes of high quality, from the grand but attainable North West Ridge, to the divine arête of the South West Ridge. We ascend the North West Ridge either via the ‘Ramp’ or alternatively by the full NW Ridge. Climbing the Ramp involves moderate-angled snow climbing that requires the use of two ice tools on the steeper sections.
The route meets the NW Ridge about halfway up and is technically straightforward climbing for the last 300m to the summit. Great views abound as we look into the deep and glaciated valleys to the west and beyond to the Tasman Sea.
