Mount Madeline

Mount Madeline
Southeast aspect
Highest point
Elevation	2,536 m (8,320 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	543 m (1,781 ft)[2]
Parent peak	Mount Tūtoko[2]
Isolation	2.87 km (1.78 mi)[2]
Listing	New Zealand #62
Coordinates	44°36′51″S 168°02′45″E[2]
Geography
Mount Madeline Location in New Zealand
Interactive map of Mount Madeline
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Southland[2]
Protected area	Fiordland National Park
Parent range	Darran Mountains
Topo map(s)	NZMS260 D40[3] Topo50 CA09[4]
Geology
Rock age	136 ± 1.9 Ma
Rock type	Gabbronorite, dioritic orthogneiss
Climbing
First ascent	1920

Mount Madeline is a 2,536-metre-elevation (8,320-foot) mountain in Fiordland, New Zealand.

Description

Mount Madeline is the second-highest peak of the Darran Mountains. It is situated in the Southland Region of South Island, and set within Fiordland National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site.^[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to the Tūtoko River via Leader Creek, and east to the Hollyford River via Madeline, Cleft, and Glacier creeks. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 2,500 metres (8,202 feet) above the Hollyford Valley in four kilometres and 2,100 metres (6,890 feet) above the Tūtoko Valley in four kilometres.

History

In 1895, Malcolm Ross, Kenneth Ross, W.J. Hodgkin, and Tom Fyfe climbed the lower west peak (2,516 m) of Madeline.^[4] The first ascent of the true summit was made in March 1920 by Alf Cowling and Samuel Turner.^[4] The mountain was named in 1921 after Samuel Turner's daughter, Madeline.^[3][5]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Madeline is located in a marine west coast climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit.^[6] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upward by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. This climate supports unnamed glaciers on the peak's slopes. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.^[7]

Climbing

Climbing routes with the first ascents:^[4]

• South West Face – Samuel Turner, Alf Cowling – (1920)
• North East Ridge from Glacier Creek – R. Offer, G. Mason, A. Witten-Hannah – (1953)
• North West Buttress – Margaret Clark, Jim Clark, G.D. Cowie – (1958)
• North East Ridge – Ian Brown, Tom Williams – (2009)
• Mad Line – Steve Skelton, Justin Venable, Simon Rutherford – (2016)

Gallery

• 
  Southeast aspect
• 
  Mount Madeleine (left) and Mount Tutoko (right) are the two highest peaks of the Darran Mountains. Viewed from east.

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height
• Fiordland

References

1. Mount Madeline, Southland, NZTopoMap, Retrieved 10 January 2025.
2. "Mount Madeline, New Zealand". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
3. Mount Madeline, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 10 January 2025.
4. Mt Madeline, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 10 January 2025.
5. New Zealand Alpine Journal, Volume 7, New Zealand Alpine Club, 1937, p. 154.
6. Te Anau Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 10 January 2025.
7. The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 10 January 2025.

External links

• Mount Madeline: weather
• Mount Madeline: New Zealand Alpine Club