Mount Isabel

Mount Isabel
East aspect centred on skyline
Highest point
Elevation	2,598 m (8,524 ft) [1] [2]
Prominence	198 m (650 ft) [2]
Parent peak	Mount Burns [2]
Isolation	1.76 km (1.09 mi) [2]
Coordinates	43°43′55″S170°00′50″E / 43.73194°S 170.01389°E / -43.73194; 170.01389 [2]
Naming
Etymology	Isabella Mueller
Geography
Mount Isabel Location in New Zealand
Interactive map of Mount Isabel
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury / West Coast
Protected area	Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park Westland Tai Poutini National Park
Parent range	Southern Alps
Topo map(s)	NZMS260 H36 [3] Topo50 BY15 [4]
Climbing
First ascent	1914

Mount Isabel is a 2,598-metre-elevation (8,524-foot) mountain in New Zealand.

Description

Mount Isabel is set on the crest or Main Divide of the Southern Alps and is situated on the boundary shared by the West Coast and Canterbury Regions of the South Island. This peak is located seven kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Mount Cook Village and set on the boundary shared by Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park and Westland Tai Poutini National Park. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's west slope drains into the headwaters of the Landsborough River, whereas the north slope drains into the Douglas River, and the southeast slope drains to the Hooker River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 1,100 metres (3,609 feet) above the Mueller Glacier in 1.5 kilometre. The nearest higher neighbour is Mount Burns, 2.8 kilometres to the southwest. ^[2]

Etymology

The mountain's toponym honours Isabella Mueller (born 1867), daughter of New Zealand surveyor Gerhard Mueller. ^[3] The summit is situated midway between Mount Bannie which is named after Isabella's mother, Elizabeth Bannatyne (Bannie) Mueller, and Mount Eric which is named after Isabella's younger brother, Eric. ^{[5] [6]}

Climbing

Climbing routes with the first ascents: ^[4]

• North East Ridge via Twain Col – Peter Graham, Samuel Turner – (March 1914)
• North West Ridge – Rob Frost, Simon Mills – (March 2008)

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Isabel is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit. ^[7] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upward by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. This climate supports the McKerrow, Ngakanohi and Mueller glaciers surrounding the peak. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak. ^[8]

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height

References

1. Mount Isabel, Canterbury, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 12 February 2025.
2. "Mount Isabel, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
3. Mount Isabel, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 12 February 2025.
4. Mt Isabel, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 12 February 2025.
5. Mount Bannie, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 12 February 2025.
6. Rona Adshead, Mueller, Gerhard, Dictionary of New Zealand Biography. Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, Retrieved 12 February 2025.
7. Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 12 February 2025.
8. The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 12 February 2025.

External links

• Weather: Mount Isabel
• Mount Isabel: New Zealand Alpine Club