Brewster

Mountain/Bush
Polytech
Instructor: Andy Fullerton, Gideon, Lydia Bradey
Group: Me, AK, Becca, Inga

7/3
Route: From Fantail falls, via Brewster Hut to the Brewster Glacier lakes.

On track in the bush and then route finding to the lakes. Fine weather on the way up.

8/3
Route: Brewster Glacier, Topheavy 2076m
Learning roping up for glacier travel, moving around on the glacier, crampon use. Then some pitching on rock, using crampons on rock, trad gear placement, leading and seconding. Roping up for ridge travel, traveling along the ridge of Topheavy, weaving the rope in and out and rope management. Setting up a bollard anchor at the peak and abseiling down.

9/3
Route: Mount Brewster 2516m
Grade: 2

5.30am start for Brewster attempt, fine weather. Travelled up the glacier and onto the west ridge of Brewster. Roped up for ridge travel and picked a route up the ridge on the rock. Made it to 2450m and had to stop, a lot of the ridge had fallen away and was not crossable with such a large group of students. Came back down the ridge and then abseiled down the western most side of the glacier. Three pitches of abseiling.

10/3
Route: South Ridge, Mt Brewster

Climbed over the south ridge of Brewster into the south basin. Lydia taught us more about glacier travel, pacing and foot work. Spent the day on crevasse rescue, getting lowered in a prussiking out, then roping up for glacier travel and jumping in, taking turns rescuing and being rescued. Setting up pulley systems to get people out.

11/3
Route: Brewster Glacier Lakes, via Brewster Hut, back to Fantail Falls
On track in the bush and route finding from lakes. Raining, poor visibility. Made route plan in case of poor visibility.