14 Jan 2026

🧗‍♂️✨ A perfect day on the rock! Today we got up on the slabs at Red Arête — one of Aoraki / Mount Cook’s classic multi-pitch climbs at the Sebastopol Bluffs.⁠
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This route is a real gem — about ~90 m of grade 14 slab and arete climbing spread over 3–4 pitches of fun, technical movement on solid red greywacke. It’s the kind of line that makes you feel like you’re actually climbing — committing, scenic, and unforgettable with views across the Southern Alps. ⁠
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🧗‍♀️ **Why it’s a classic:**⁠
⭐️ Multi-pitch goodness — perfect for practising belays, rope management, and movement on real rock. 
⭐️ Historic roots — reputedly first soloed by legendary NZ mountaineer Tom Fyfe in the 1890s as preparation for the first ascent of Aoraki / Mt Cook — a cool bit of Kiwi climbing heritage right on our doorstep. 

⭐️ Accessible exposure — easy to approach from Mt Cook Village, steeped in alpine character, and an awesome introduction to longer rock climbs in a big mountain setting. ⁠
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This route is a firm favourite on our Mountaineering Skills Courses — a great place to build confidence, learn multi-pitch techniques, or just soak in that “are we really up here?!” feeling with epic mountain views.⁠

👉 Swipe up / link in bio to learn more about our Intensive Mountaineering Skills Course where climbs like this are part of the journey
➡️ https://alpinerecreation.com/new-zealand-alpine-climbing-mountaineering-instruction-and-guided-ascents/mountaineering-skills-and-alpine-climbing-courses/intensive-mountaineering-skills-course

We also offer bespoke private climbing instruction — just ask us!
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Who’s ready for the next pitch? 🏔️🔥⁠

#ClimbingNZ #AorakiMountCook #RockClimbing #SebastopolBluffs #MountaineeringSkills