Remarkable Run

A short, sharp mountain run to an alpine lake and up to the airy summit of the highest point of The Remarkables (Single Cone 2319m).

On a clear day there's awesome views of the Queenstown area and the long sweep of the southern alps from Mt Tutoko and Aspiring to Mt Cook. As a run-climb-run, this is a summer-only outing in fine weather. Mostly straightforward, except for one short/steep/exposed section near the top (trail running shoes are fine).

From the end of the ski-field road, run up the trail to Lake Alta, then follow up the Wye Creek route to the col above the lake. From here climb west a little and follow a pleasant wide terrace that heads south and then sidle west across toward the ridge below and slightly south of Single Cone. Climb up easy slabs of schist rock between snow patches directly towards the skyline ridge aiming about 200m south of Single Cone (if it starts to gets too step tend left).

Continue up towards the skyline ridge until you can easily traverse right on a rocky ledge below a semi-permanent snow field, with an increasingly exposed drop below you, towards an obvious steep snow-filled gully (an alpine route requiring ice axe/crampons - this is not your route!). To the right of this is a less obvious chimney (wide at the bottom) of blocky rock. Head up this way - it's short, steep and exposed, but there's good friction and the rock is solid. Some bridging moves with your feet higher up help. Break out at the top of this (by a cairn) and tend right and up - the summit and its airy viewpoint boulder (overlooking the 1500m west face of the Remarkables) are close at hand.

Once you've soaked up the panoramic views, head back the same way to the cairn near the top of the chimney. Climbing down the steep bit is no harder than climbing up, though the sight of the drop below will no doubt focus your attention! Once down this steep bit, you can run much of the way back (including some sliding on short soft snow patches on the way down towards the col).