Mount Oates is a 2,054-metre-elevation (6,739-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

Description

Mount Oates is located 115 kilometres (71 mi) northwest of Christchurch in Arthur's Pass National Park. It is set along the Main Divide of the Southern Alps in the South Island.[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain's west slope drains into the Mingha River, whereas the east slope drains into the Edwards River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 854 metres (2,802 feet) above the Edwards Valley in 1.5 kilometres, and 1,050 metres (3,445 feet) above the Mingha Valley in two kilometres. The nearest higher peak is Mount Franklin, four kilometres to the north.[1] The mountain's toponym honours Lawrence Oates (1880–1912), a British army officer, and later an Antarctic explorer, who died from hypothermia during the ill-fated 1910–13 Terra Nova Expedition to Antarctica.[3]

Climbing

Climbing routes:[2]

  • Via Mid Mingha River – B.H. Blunden, John Pascoe, B.A. Barrer – (15 February 1931)
  • West Ridge
  • West Face
  • Via Lake Mavis
  • Edwards Direct
  • Via Edwards Hut

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Oates is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit.[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. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.[6]

See also

Mount Oates from Mount O'Malley

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Mount Oates, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Mt Oates, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  3. ^ a b Mount Oates, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  4. ^ a b Geological Map of New Zealand, GNS Science geological web map application, Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  5. ^ Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  6. ^ The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 25 February 2025.
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