Mount Madeline
Mount Madeline is a mountain in Fiordland, New Zealand.
Description
Mount Madeline is the second-highest peak of the Darran Mountains. It is situated in the Southland Region of South Island, and set within Fiordland National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to the Tūtoko River via Leader Creek, and east to the Hollyford River via Madeline, Cleft, and Glacier creeks. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above the Hollyford Valley in four kilometres and above the Tūtoko Valley in four kilometres.History
In 1895, Malcolm Ross, Kenneth Ross, W.J. Hodgkin, and Tom Fyfe climbed the lower west peak of Madeline. The first ascent of the true summit was made in March 1920 by Alf Cowling and Samuel Turner. The mountain was named in 1921 after Samuel Turner's daughter, Madeline.Climate
Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Madeline is located in a marine west coast climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate at the summit. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upward by the mountains, causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. This climate supports unnamed glaciers on the peak's slopes. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.Climbing
Climbing routes with the first ascents:- South West Face – Samuel Turner, Alf Cowling –
- North East Ridge from Glacier Creek – R. Offer, G. Mason, A. Witten-Hannah –
- North West Buttress – Margaret Clark, Jim Clark, G.D. Cowie –
- North East Ridge – Ian Brown, Tom Williams –
- Mad Line – Steve Skelton, Justin Venable, Simon Rutherford –