Blimit is a 1,921-metre-elevation (6,302-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

Description

Blimit is located four kilometres (2.5 mi) north-northeast of Arthur's Pass in Arthur's Pass National Park and is set in the Southern Alps of the South Island.[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to the Bealey River and east into the headwaters of the Mingha River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 620 metres (2,034 feet) above the Mingha headwaters in one kilometre. The nearest higher peak is Phipps Peak, 1.8 kilometres to the north.[2] The mountain's toponym has been officially approved by the New Zealand Geographic Board and is a blend word of "bail limit" which is the officially recognised form of the mountaineer's longstanding expletive for abandoning a climb before reaching the top, often due to fatigue or realising the route is beyond capabilities.[3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Blimit is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone.[5] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. This climate supports the Temple Basin ski area on the west slope of the peak. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.[6]

Climate data for Arthurs Pass Village (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1978–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 32.1
(89.8)
29.5
(85.1)
26.4
(79.5)
22.5
(72.5)
17.6
(63.7)
14.0
(57.2)
12.8
(55.0)
14.3
(57.7)
20.0
(68.0)
22.5
(72.5)
26.2
(79.2)
27.6
(81.7)
32.1
(89.8)
Mean maximum °C (°F) 25.6
(78.1)
25.4
(77.7)
22.4
(72.3)
17.8
(64.0)
14.4
(57.9)
11.1
(52.0)
9.9
(49.8)
12.0
(53.6)
14.9
(58.8)
18.0
(64.4)
20.7
(69.3)
23.4
(74.1)
27.2
(81.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 18.3
(64.9)
18.6
(65.5)
16.1
(61.0)
12.7
(54.9)
9.7
(49.5)
6.7
(44.1)
6.0
(42.8)
7.6
(45.7)
9.8
(49.6)
11.7
(53.1)
13.9
(57.0)
16.5
(61.7)
12.3
(54.2)
Daily mean °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)
13.4
(56.1)
11.2
(52.2)
8.3
(46.9)
5.8
(42.4)
3.0
(37.4)
2.2
(36.0)
3.5
(38.3)
5.5
(41.9)
7.3
(45.1)
9.3
(48.7)
11.8
(53.2)
7.9
(46.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 8.3
(46.9)
8.2
(46.8)
6.3
(43.3)
4.0
(39.2)
1.9
(35.4)
−0.6
(30.9)
−1.6
(29.1)
−0.7
(30.7)
1.3
(34.3)
3.0
(37.4)
4.7
(40.5)
7.2
(45.0)
3.5
(38.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F) 2.5
(36.5)
2.3
(36.1)
−0.4
(31.3)
−2.2
(28.0)
−3.9
(25.0)
−6.7
(19.9)
−7.5
(18.5)
−6.2
(20.8)
−4.5
(23.9)
−2.7
(27.1)
−1.4
(29.5)
1.3
(34.3)
−8.3
(17.1)
Record low °C (°F) −1.0
(30.2)
−1.5
(29.3)
−8.5
(16.7)
−7.8
(18.0)
−7.5
(18.5)
−11.5
(11.3)
−12.5
(9.5)
−11.0
(12.2)
−8.2
(17.2)
−6.1
(21.0)
−5.0
(23.0)
−1.4
(29.5)
−12.5
(9.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 413.5
(16.28)
272.6
(10.73)
321.2
(12.65)
370.3
(14.58)
395.0
(15.55)
378.1
(14.89)
328.4
(12.93)
353.0
(13.90)
452.5
(17.81)
489.4
(19.27)
438.6
(17.27)
447.7
(17.63)
4,660.3
(183.49)
Average relative humidity (%) 77 78 82 86 88 90 88 87 84 81 78 78 83
Source 1: NIWA [7]
Source 2: "Arthur's Pass – Weather Database"[8]

Climbing

Climbing routes:[9]

  • Via Temple Basin
  • Via Cons Track
  • Aicken–Blimit Traverse

See also

References

  1. ^ Blimit, Canterbury, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Mount Blimit, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  3. ^ a b Blimit, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  4. ^ a b Geological Map of New Zealand, GNS Science geological web map application, Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  5. ^ Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  6. ^ The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 6 March 2025.
  7. ^ "CliFlo -The National Climate Database (Agent numbers: 4513. 25821, 41489)". NIWA. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  8. ^ "Arthur's Pass – Weather Database". Graeme Kates. Retrieved 5 June 2021.
  9. ^ Blimit, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 6 March 2025.
No tags for this post.