Port Hills - Earthquake Update Sept 8th

Submitted by margaret.mcmahon on 8 September 2010 - 9:21am

The following update thanks to Jon Enwisle, on the earthquake damage up on the Port Hills climbing areas:

I've wandered under several of the Port Hills Crags over the last few days. Here's what I've observed:-

Castle Rock has lost Sea Breezes Buttress in a massive rock fall. This is still active and the ridge from where it pulled out is very unstable. Definitely to be avoided. Hellfire Gully is living up to its name with plenty of new rock fall at its base. Surprisingly Flying Buttress is still there and the whole of the city side seems to be fine. As are the Battlements. Seems best to avoid this crag while there are still after shocks.

Britten Crag has lost the lefthandside of Shit Buttress. Doubt if we will miss it. The crag either side of there looks fine with very little evidence of rock fall. Should be OK to climb on once the after shocks die down.

Mount Pleasant LHS seemed not to have suffered.

Rapaki has had a large rock fall down by the fence at the RHS - climbers' right - but otherwise is unharmed.

Tors looked fine.

Lyttelton also OK

Twisted Sister again OK

Middle Sister some rock fall at RHS but climbs OK

Looks like the crags got away lightly but then they have had 5 million years of practice of resisting earthquakes