Temple Peak
- Mike Morelli
- Feb 8
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 11
Date: February 8, 2025
Location: Richardson Mountains, Glenorchy, Otago, New Zealand
Total Trip Distance: 13.62 mi / 21.9 km
Total Elevation Gain: 6,568 ft / 2,002 m
Trip Duration: 8 hours 53 min
Team: Alex Catalfamo
Field Notes: As of writing, the route described in the new Mount Aspiring Guidebook is non-existent, so please call Temple Peak Station before using the route described. Park in the parking lot on the north side of Precipice Creek. Take the Precipice Creek trail until it meets a road. A resident along the road told us "there is a track that leads through the bush." We never found it. Instead, we went through a gate and stayed along the fence line until 700 meters (call Temple Peak Station). From here, join a 4wd track heading North, and then travel East directly up to Precipice Hill. Follow a rough trail along the ridge north towards Temple Peak. Sidle under Point 1856 at the 1600 meter contour. Then follow an old 4wd track and animal tracks to just below the summit of Temple Peak. Sidle forty meters below the summit on the north, before a gully gives easy access to the top.
Rating: I, 1
Alex is back! Our last trip together was an incredible four-day trip through the Pasayten Wilderness back in late September of 2023. Man, it feels good to have one of your best mates back. And even better he is super fit.
We decided upon a trip that was non-technical, direct, and would allow light packs. I've been working through the Richardson Mountains and figured Temple Peak would be a fun trip.
Sunday was calling for poor weather and Saturday had a chance of going either way, so being in the Richardson's made sense. I've found that if the weather in the Aspiring Region is 50/50, the Richardsons typically get hit last which would give us more time up our sleeve.
My observation was confirmed as we made our way up Precipice Hill. As we climbed up to our first summit, the mountains of the Routeburn and Dart Valley were entirely clagged in by rain clouds while we were under a scorching sun in the Richardsons.
It took us two hours and fifteen minutes to reach the summit of Precipice Hill and the views were surprisingly amazing. Black Peak, Mount Larkins, and Stone Peak were visible to the South. The Humboldt Mountains stood proudly across the lake, and the mighty Mount Earnslaw to the North. Our favorite view was looking up the Temple Burn.
Cloud began to spill over the lake and the wind picked up a few knots so we decided to keep moving. The ridgeline from Precipice Hill to Temple Peak is some of the best scenery I've experienced in a long time. Alex made for a great subject when it came to taking photos.
The terrain under Point 1856 looked ugly and without helmets, we opted to sidle under the high point. Plus, there was a solid ground trail to follow. We joined the North West Ridge of Temple Peak at 1,660 meters and continued upwards.
I had set a strong pace for the day and felt like I had wings. It was one of those days. Meanwhile, Alex hadn't set foot on a mountain since our last trip in September 2023 and showed his strong fitness by keeping up step for step. We were on the summit in under five hours since leaving the car.
To get to the summit, we walked up the West Ridge to about forty meters below the summit and followed a scree shelf on the northern side of the mountain. When hard under the summit, we walked up a scree gully to the summit ridge which gave easy access to the top.
At the summit, we enjoyed a quick view before clouds swallowed us in. Just in time. We hung out for a bit, ate some lunch, and decided we should keep moving.
The trip back to the van was uneventful. The clouds spit rain at us from time to time, but we loved the cool breeze and cloud cover.
Back along the ridge to Precipice Hill the views were amazing and I'll let the photo below speak for itself. It's great to have 'Talf back.
Happy days...
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