Mount Moffat (New Zealand)

Mount Moffat
South aspect, centred
Highest point
Elevation	2,638 m (8,655 ft) [1] [2]
Prominence	478 m (1,568 ft) [2]
Isolation	4.46 km (2.77 mi) [2]
Listing	Highest mountains of New Zealand
Coordinates	43°27′41″S170°27′20″E / 43.46139°S 170.45556°E / -43.46139; 170.45556 [2]
Geography
Mount Moffat Location in New Zealand
Interactive map of Mount Moffat
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury / West Coast
Protected area	Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park
Parent range	Southern Alps
Topo map(s)	NZMS260 I35 [3] Topo50 BX16
Climbing
First ascent	1933

Mount Moffat is a 2,638-metre-elevation (8,655-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

Description

Mount Moffat is situated on the crest or Main Divide of the Southern Alps and on the boundary of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. It is located 190 kilometres (118 mi) west of the city of Christchurch and set on the common boundary shared by the Canterbury and West Coast Regions of South Island. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains northwest into the Butler River and southeast to the Godley River. Topographic relief is significant as the south face rises 1,640 metres (5,381 feet) in 2.5 kilometres. The nearest higher peak is Mount Mannering, four kilometres to the southwest. ^[2] The first ascent of the summit was made in January 1933 by A.J. Scott, Alf Brustad, and Russell Fraser. ^[4]

Climbing

Climbing routes on Mount Moffat: ^[4]

• South East Ridge – A.J. Scott, Alf Brustad, Russell Fraser – (1933)
• West Slope – Laurie Osborne, Bruce Waterhouse, John Harrison, B H (Snow) Williams – (1954)
• South West Ridge – John Nankervis, Phil Castle, Grant Stotter, Pat Thorn – (1978)

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Moffat is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a tundra climate at the summit. ^[5] 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 Gino Watkins, Grey, Elizabeth, Easter, and Sustins glaciers on this mountain's slopes. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak. ^[6]

Mount Moffat centred, aerial from northeast

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height

References

1. Mount Moffat, West Coast, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 23 December 2024.
2. "Mount Moffat, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 23 December 2024.
3. Mount Moffat, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 23 December 2024.
4. Mt Moffat, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 23 December 2024.
5. Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 22 December 2024.
6. The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 23 December 2024.

External links

• Mount Moffat: weather
• Mount Moffat: Climbnz.org