Mount Hooker is a mountain in the West Coast Region of New Zealand.
Description Mount Hooker is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains south into the headwaters of the Clarke River, and north into the headwaters of the Ōtoko River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above the Ōtoko Valley in two kilometres, and above the Clarke Valley in four kilometres. The nearest higher peak is Mount Dechen, seven kilometres to the northeast. The mountain's toponym was applied by Julius von Haast to honour Joseph Dalton Hooker (1817–1911), British botanist and explorer.Mount Hooker, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 20 January 2025.
Climbing The first ascent of the summit was made in December 1928 by Samuel Turner and Cyril Turner.Mt Hooker, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 20 January 2025.
Climbing routes with the first ascents:
North West Ridge – Samuel Turner, Cyril Turner – (1928) South East Ridge – Paul Bieleski, G.A. Carr, Bruce Jenkinson, A.G. Nelson – (1962) Via Jack Creek – Bruce Popplewell, Bill Stephenson – (1965) South Ridge – Dave Innes, Bruce Robertson, Peter Foster, Laurie Kennedy – (1968) Hersey Vinton-Boot – Shelley Hersey, Jamie Vinton-Boot – (2012)
Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Hooker is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit.Christchurch Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 20 January 2025. 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 fall in the form of rain or snow. This climate supports the Hooker and Otoko glaciers on the slopes of the peak. 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 20 January 2025.
Gallery
See also List of mountains of New Zealand by height
References
External links Mount Hooker weather: Peakvisor.com Mount Hooker: New Zealand Alpine Club