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Mount Awful
South aspect
Highest point
Elevation	2,192 m (7,192 ft)
Prominence	662 m (2,172 ft)
Isolation	6.49 km (4.03 mi)
Listing	Mountains of New Zealand
Coordinates	44°08′28″S 169°03′45″E / 44.141095°S 169.0625°E / -44.141095; 169.0625
Geography
Mount AwfulLocation in New Zealand
Interactive map of Mount Awful
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Otago
Protected area	Mount Aspiring National Park
Parent range	Southern Alps
Topo map(s)	NZMS260 F38 Topo50 BZ12
Climbing
First ascent	1944

Mount Awful is a 2,192-metre-elevation (7,192-foot) mountain in Otago, New Zealand.

Description

Mount Awful is located 15 kilometres northwest of the community of Makarora in the Southern Alps of the South Island. It is set within Mount Aspiring National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's west and south slopes drains to the Wilkin River via Siberia Stream, whereas the north and east slopes drain into the headwaters of the North and South branches of the Young River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,400 metres (4,593 feet) above the North Branch in two kilometres. The nearest higher neighbour is Mount Alba, six kilometres to the southwest.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Awful is located in a marine west coast climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.

Climbing

The first ascent of the summit was made in December 1944 by J.W. Aitken, J. Gillespie, E. Miller, and F. Wilkinson.

Climbing routes:

• North West Ridge – J.W. Aitken, J. Gillespie, E. Miller, F. Wilkinson – (1944)
• Weta Walk (East Face) – Clinton Beavan, Allan Uren – (1996)
• A Stitch in Time (East Face) – Anna Gillooly, David Hiddleston – (2000)
• South West Ridge – Mark Morrison, Regan Low – (2001)
• Wicked (East Face) – Milo Gilmour, Llewellyn Murdock – (2013)
• Summer of Yes (East Face) – Milo Gilmour, Nick Flyvbjerg, Rich Tribe – (2013)
• A Very Hungry Weka (East Face) – Timothy Hargrave, Alan Goldbetter – (2014)
• South East Ridge – FA unknown

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height

References

1. Mount Awful, Otago, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
2. ^ "Mount Awful, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2 January 2025.
3. Mount Awful, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
4. ^ Mt Awful, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
5. Te Anau Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 2 January 2025.
6. The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 2 January 2025.

External links

• Mount Awful: weather
• Mount Awful: New Zealand Alpine Club

v t e Places adjacent to Mount Awful
Main Divide Young Peak Young River North Branch Mount Dreadful Mount Awful Young River North Branch Mount Alba Gillespie Stream Young Basin

• Mountains
• Geography
• Geology
• New Zealand

• Mountains of Otago
• Mount Aspiring National Park
• Southern Alps