Matt Lemke - Nov 27, 2019 11:25 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2019
Via Zurbriggen Ridge
This was the first nice weather day in weeks, and there were a total of about 16 people summit (mostly guided parties on the Linda). We had the Zurbriggen to ourselves though in perfect neve/ice conditions! Descent down Linda was deep, wet snow but well covered.
atavist - Aug 27, 2018 4:26 am Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2017
Got it before NYE
Went up the Zurbriggen then turned back at the rocky summit ridge due to daylight concerns. Regrouped then went up the Linda Glacier a couple days later. We might have been the last people to summit for the season. The glacier was getting pretty open. A couple parties within days after us couldn't negotiate a path through the lower glacier.
setrent - Dec 9, 2017 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2017
Linda Glacier
Wanted Zurbriggen's Ridge, but the start was too soft. 15.5 hours RT from Plateau Hut. Excellent mountain!
Climbed this with Bob Enagonio. Good rock climbing (for the Southern Alps), long day, topped out just before sunset, spent the night at the middle peak "hotel" before going back to Empress Hut.
alimeikle - Dec 27, 2008 7:24 am Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2005
east ridge
Soloed the East ridge-best day of my life (so far)
Nefsek - Nov 21, 2008 12:30 am Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2008
Unsuccessful
Made it half way up the Linda only to be turned around by deep, fresh snow. Returned to Mt. Cook village to throw down a few beers. Vaguely remember being kicked out of the Old Mountaineer's bar for tossing a Scientology pamphlet and hitting the barowner in the face...who happened to be a Scientologist.
After waiting 5 days for the weather to improve, got in a late season climb after a dry and warm summer. Glacier was full of crevasses and very open making for a long climb. Summit rocks were gorgeous. Nasty weather on the descent.
Jan 1979...most vivid memory: incredible cornices. second memory: it thrashed me
uwjennie - Dec 20, 2006 2:32 am Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2006
Linda Glacier
Great climb with a great guide in excellent weather.
:)
Jennie
alexclimb - May 5, 2006 7:49 am Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2006
East Ridge
We tried the route on a beautiful day after severe five days snow storm and found it in very difficult conditions.
We spent eight hours only to get to the ridge from the Plateau Hut by deep, sometimes waist-deep snow. Then there was the first rock step fully covered with snow. Soon after climbing it we decided to return because of the very dangerous route conditions - deep fresh snow, lack of protection and clear signs of coming weather change. We were back in the Hut just in time before the snow storm and high with came again, and captured us inside for another three days.
Anyway, it is very beautiful mountain and I am surely will try it again!
mtnman455 - Feb 7, 2006 2:05 am Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2006
Route Climbed: Linda Date Climbed: January 10, 2006
With T. Haines. We attempeted E Face, but conditions were very bad. Lots of powder, so we hooked back up with the Linda after a 3 hour detour and snatched the summit against all accounts of the Linda being "unpassable." We found this was not so. First to summit in 2006! See Trip report "Mt. Cook: The Whole Thing"
Route Climbed: Sheila Face, central buttress variant Date Climbed: Nov 2006
Well, we bailed about 250m below the summit, in crap conditions, but we managed 5 long, fun pitches up to 5.8, WI 3+. Minimal pro to be had in the compact rock, somewhat stressful rappelling back down to the schrund... with Andrew
Route Climbed: Linda Glacier (Couloir Variant) Date Climbed: December 11, 2005
Climbed with Nick Herrald during a brief break in the weather. We flew to Plateau Hut in somewhat cloudy conditions, but by 10PM, the clouds had disappeared and we had an excellent freeze. We left the hut shortly before midnight and made our way up the heavily crevassed Linda glacier. Routefinding was quite difficult and a circuitous route was necessary to reach the Linda shelf. From here, we climbed the couloir through the summit rocks in approximately 8 pitches. Conditions were very firm with long sections of hard water ice. The summit ridge was also quite icy, with one short steep step to cross the bergschrund below the summit. We climbed the route in 8 hours, descended in 7 hours (with two 30m rappels through the summit rocks). Conditions on the lower glacier during the descent were very soft, making for slow progress. After a rest day in the hut during bad weather, we flew out the following morning.
Route Climbed: Grand Plateau, Linda Glacier route Date Climbed: February 2001
Unfortunately, didn't make the summit..but still wanna make an entry! Got beaten by a very underdone South African climbing partner ~ learned from that one. The ice conditions were bad too with broken icefall / wide slots, but the weather was beaut! Will try again in late spring. The Grand Plateau is a lovely spot with many climbing options on a number of 3000+m peaks, and the climbing hut is comfortable, warm and friendly.
Matt Lemke - Nov 27, 2019 11:25 am Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2019
Via Zurbriggen RidgeThis was the first nice weather day in weeks, and there were a total of about 16 people summit (mostly guided parties on the Linda). We had the Zurbriggen to ourselves though in perfect neve/ice conditions! Descent down Linda was deep, wet snow but well covered.
atavist - Aug 27, 2018 4:26 am Date Climbed: Dec 30, 2017
Got it before NYEWent up the Zurbriggen then turned back at the rocky summit ridge due to daylight concerns. Regrouped then went up the Linda Glacier a couple days later. We might have been the last people to summit for the season. The glacier was getting pretty open. A couple parties within days after us couldn't negotiate a path through the lower glacier.
setrent - Dec 9, 2017 11:28 pm Date Climbed: Nov 25, 2017
Linda GlacierWanted Zurbriggen's Ridge, but the start was too soft. 15.5 hours RT from Plateau Hut. Excellent mountain!
Jade - Nov 7, 2013 7:08 pm
Sheila Face Left ButtressClimbed this with Bob Enagonio. Good rock climbing (for the Southern Alps), long day, topped out just before sunset, spent the night at the middle peak "hotel" before going back to Empress Hut.
alimeikle - Dec 27, 2008 7:24 am Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2005
east ridgeSoloed the East ridge-best day of my life (so far)
Nefsek - Nov 21, 2008 12:30 am Date Climbed: Nov 19, 2008
UnsuccessfulMade it half way up the Linda only to be turned around by deep, fresh snow. Returned to Mt. Cook village to throw down a few beers. Vaguely remember being kicked out of the Old Mountaineer's bar for tossing a Scientology pamphlet and hitting the barowner in the face...who happened to be a Scientologist.
sdespins - Feb 24, 2008 8:23 am
Linda GlacierAfter waiting 5 days for the weather to improve, got in a late season climb after a dry and warm summer. Glacier was full of crevasses and very open making for a long climb. Summit rocks were gorgeous. Nasty weather on the descent.
jvarholak - Feb 15, 2007 2:32 am
route: Linda GlacierJan 1979...most vivid memory: incredible cornices. second memory: it thrashed me
uwjennie - Dec 20, 2006 2:32 am Date Climbed: Dec 18, 2006
Linda GlacierGreat climb with a great guide in excellent weather.
:)
Jennie
alexclimb - May 5, 2006 7:49 am Date Climbed: Mar 4, 2006
East RidgeWe tried the route on a beautiful day after severe five days snow storm and found it in very difficult conditions.
We spent eight hours only to get to the ridge from the Plateau Hut by deep, sometimes waist-deep snow. Then there was the first rock step fully covered with snow. Soon after climbing it we decided to return because of the very dangerous route conditions - deep fresh snow, lack of protection and clear signs of coming weather change. We were back in the Hut just in time before the snow storm and high with came again, and captured us inside for another three days.
Anyway, it is very beautiful mountain and I am surely will try it again!
mtnman455 - Feb 7, 2006 2:05 am Date Climbed: Jan 10, 2006
Route Climbed: Linda Date Climbed: January 10, 2006With T. Haines. We attempeted E Face, but conditions were very bad. Lots of powder, so we hooked back up with the Linda after a 3 hour detour and snatched the summit against all accounts of the Linda being "unpassable." We found this was not so. First to summit in 2006! See Trip report "Mt. Cook: The Whole Thing"
brandon - Dec 15, 2005 1:12 am
Route Climbed: Sheila Face, central buttress variant Date Climbed: Nov 2006Well, we bailed about 250m below the summit, in crap conditions, but we managed 5 long, fun pitches up to 5.8, WI 3+. Minimal pro to be had in the compact rock, somewhat stressful rappelling back down to the schrund... with Andrew
Tom Fralich - Dec 14, 2005 11:39 pm
Route Climbed: Linda Glacier (Couloir Variant) Date Climbed: December 11, 2005Climbed with Nick Herrald during a brief break in the weather. We flew to Plateau Hut in somewhat cloudy conditions, but by 10PM, the clouds had disappeared and we had an excellent freeze. We left the hut shortly before midnight and made our way up the heavily crevassed Linda glacier. Routefinding was quite difficult and a circuitous route was necessary to reach the Linda shelf. From here, we climbed the couloir through the summit rocks in approximately 8 pitches. Conditions were very firm with long sections of hard water ice. The summit ridge was also quite icy, with one short steep step to cross the bergschrund below the summit. We climbed the route in 8 hours, descended in 7 hours (with two 30m rappels through the summit rocks). Conditions on the lower glacier during the descent were very soft, making for slow progress. After a rest day in the hut during bad weather, we flew out the following morning.
NZDonald - Sep 16, 2005 3:51 pm
Route Climbed: West Ridge Grand Traverse Date Climbed: 25 December 2003This is the most brilliant mountain in the world
Rockmonkey001 - Sep 10, 2002 6:54 am
Route Climbed: Linda's route Date Climbed: 17Dec02Great climb going back this year for a diferent route, and some of the other mountains.
bisleydog - Nov 21, 2001 9:35 pm
Route Climbed: linda, zubriggins Date Climbed: january 2001great climb
nawalaniec - Jun 21, 2001 12:24 am
Route Climbed: Grand Plateau, Linda Glacier route Date Climbed: February 2001Unfortunately, didn't make the summit..but still wanna make an entry! Got beaten by a very underdone South African climbing partner ~ learned from that one. The ice conditions were bad too with broken icefall / wide slots, but the weather was beaut! Will try again in late spring. The Grand Plateau is a lovely spot with many climbing options on a number of 3000+m peaks, and the climbing hut is comfortable, warm and friendly.
Joe Nawalaniec, Blenheim, NZ.