The SW Ridge of Mt Aspiring
30/6/20 - 3/7/20 Party: Owen Daniell, Alastair McDowell, Tom Hadley Author: Owen Daniell Alastair descending the NW Ridge after a successful climb of the SW ridge (Tom Hadley) “You guys keen for Southwest ridge?” We’d been hinting at it for the last day or so, but neither of us really thought it in the cards. I had known Tom Hadley and Maddy Whittaker would be in Wanaka for some time during the break, and had tactfully based myself there in hopes of an invitation. Tom and Maddy arrived back in Wanaka from a pioneer hut mission and we were soon joined by Alastair McDowell. Maddy unfortunately had to return to Dunedin for some study. Tom and I were originally thinking of Mt. Avalanche, Popes Nose or Rob Roy. The unexpected addition of Alastair’s ice leading experience opened up the Southwest ridge of Aspiring as a potential objective. The mention of such an objective sent pangs of nervousness through Tom and me. Each of us had somewhat minimal ice climbing experience, and the three ste