Mount Forbes is a mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.
Description Mount Forbes is located at the northern end of the Sibbald Range which is a subrange of the Southern Alps.Sibbald Range, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 23 December 2024. It is situated west of the city of Christchurch and is set on the northeastern boundary of Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park in the Canterbury Region of South Island. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into the headwaters of the Macaulay River, and west to the Godley River via Separation and McKinnon streams. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above Macaulay River in two kilometres and above Separation Stream in two kilometres. The nearest higher peak is Mount D'Archiac, three kilometres to the north. The first ascent of the summit was made in February 1912 by Hugh F. Wright and Jim P. Murphy.Mt Forbes, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 23 December 2024.
Etymology The mountain was named in 1861 by Julius von Haast to honour James David Forbes (1809–1868), a Scottish physicist, glaciologist, and professor at the University of Edinburgh.Mount Forbes, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 23 December 2024. The Māori name for this mountain is "Tururehekau".Alexander Wyclif Reed, Place Names of New Zealand, 1975, , p. 128. This mountain's toponym has been officially approved by the New Zealand Geographic Board.
Climbing Climbing routes on Mount Forbes:
Ballium Snowfield – First ascent by Edgar Williams – (1932) South Face – Ian Powell, Arthur Thompson, Frank Simpson, L. Pracy, T. Cameron – (1940) South East Ridge – Stan Conway, Bernie McClelland, Jack Pattle, Arthur Dixon, Dave Parr – (1950) North West Ridge
Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Forbes is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a tundra climate at the summit.Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 23 December 2024. 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 small unnamed glaciers on this mountain's slopes. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 23 December 2024.
Gallery
See also List of mountains of New Zealand by height Torlesse Composite Terrane
References
External links Mount Forbes: weather Mount Forbes: Climbnz.org