Mount Bonpland

{{Short description|Mountain in Otago, New Zealand}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox mountain

| name = Mount Bonpland

| photo = Mount Bonpland.jpg

| photo_caption = Northeast aspect

| elevation_m = 2343

| elevation_ref =[https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz19308/Mount-Bonpland/Otago Mount Bonpland, Otago], NZTopoMap, Retrieved 9 January 2025.{{cite peakbagger|pid=11698|name=Mount Bonpland, New Zealand|access-date=9 January 2025}}

| prominence_m = 1167

| prominence_ref =

| isolation_km = 18.42

| isolation_ref =

| etymology = Aimé Bonpland

| range = Southern Alps
Humboldt Mountains

| part_type = Protected area | part =

| country = New Zealand

| location = South Island

| region = Otago

| region_type = Region

| map = New Zealand

| map_caption = Location in New Zealand

| label_position = bottom

| coordinates = {{coord|44.826508|S|168.279138|E|type:mountain_region:NZ|display=inline,title}}

| coordinates_ref =

| mapframe = yes

| mapframe-zoom = 8

| mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Mount Bonpland

| topo = NZMS260 E41[https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/30772 Mount Bonpland], New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 9 January 2025.
Topo50 CB09

| rock =

| easiest_route =

| first_ascent = 1894

}}

Mount Bonpland is a {{convert|2343|metre|ft|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off}} mountain in Otago, New Zealand.

Description

Mount Bonpland is the highest peak in the Humboldt Mountains which are a subrange of the Southern Alps on the South Island.[https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/aspiring/humboldt-mountains/mt-bonpland Mt Bonpland], New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 9 January 2025. It is located nine kilometres west of the settlement of Glenorchy. Precipitation runoff from the mountain's slopes drains east into Glacier Burn which is a tributary of the Dart River / Te Awa Whakatipu, and west to Caples River, with both rivers emptying shortly thereafter into Lake Wakatipu. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises {{convert|2030.|m|ft|abbr=off}} above the lake in six kilometres, and {{convert|540.|m|ft|abbr=off}} above Bryant Glacier in 0.5 kilometre. The nearest higher peak is Mount Christina, 18.5 kilometres to the west.{{cite web|url=https://peakvisor.com/peak/mount-bonpland.html|title=Mount Bonpland, Peakvisor.com|access-date=9 January 2025}} This mountain's toponym was applied by James McKerrow to honour Aimé Bonpland (1773–1858), a French explorer and botanist who traveled with Alexander von Humboldt in Latin America from 1799 to 1804. The first ascent of the summit was made in 1894 by W.J.P. Hodgkins and E. Bryant.

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Bonpland is located in a marine west coast climate zone.[https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/new-zealand/southland/te-anau-281135/ Te Anau Climate (New Zealand)], climate-data.org, Retrieved 9 January 2025. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. This climate supports the Bryant Glacier on the east slope of the peak. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.[https://nzpocketguide.com/the-best-time-to-visit-the-south-island/ The Best Time to Visit the South Island], nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 9 January 2025.

Climbing

Climbing routes:

  • East Face
  • East Face Direct
  • East Face – North Ridge
  • West Ridge

See also

Gallery

File:Bold Peak and Mount Bonpland.jpg|Bold Peak (left) and the Mount Bonpland complex, from east.

File:Mount Bonpland south.jpg|South aspect of Mount Bonpland (left), Bold Peak to right

File:Silver Fern Rally 2014 (15188970473).jpg|Mount Bonpland centred, view from plane

File:Mount Bonpland east.jpg|Aerial view of Mount Bonpland from east with what remains of Bryant Glacier

File:Mount Bonpland east aspect.jpg|East aspect

References

{{Reflist}}