Mount Dechen is a mountain in the West Coast Region of New Zealand.
Description Mount Dechen is located in the Southern Alps of the South Island. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains east into the Landsborough River, southwest into the headwaters of the Ōtoko River, and north into the headwaters of the Edison River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above the Ōtoko Valley in four kilometres, and above the Landsborough Valley in four kilometres. The nearest higher peak is Mount Ward, nine kilometres to the southeast. The mountain's toponym was applied by Julius von Haast to honour his geology teacher, Ernst Heinrich Karl von Dechen (1800–1889).Mount Dechen, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 22 January 2025.
Climbing The first ascent of the summit was made in March 1935 by Marjorie Edgar-Jones, Gladys Acton-Adams, Frank Alack, and Tom Christie.Mt Dechen, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 22 January 2025.
Climbing routes with the first ascents:
South Ridge – Marjorie Edgar-Jones, Gladys Acton-Adams, Frank Alack, Tom Christie – (1935) East Face – Norman Hardie, Jim McFarlane – (1947) North East Ridge – Trevor McCann, Maurie Bishop – (1952) Ōtoko Couloir – Dick Tornquist, Vic McGregor, Alex Parton, John Luxton, Tim Barfoot, George Hunter – (1961)
Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Dechen 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 220 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 Dechen and McCardell 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 22 January 2025.
See also List of mountains of New Zealand by height
References
External links Mount Dechen: weather Mount Dechen: New Zealand Alpine Club Mount Dechen (photo): Flickr