There is little useful one can add to previous reports of ascending the Big Sister since we followed Alan Kane’s well known route description. We didn’t find the simpler route that Kane mentions and continued up the ridge instead. Kane mentions one downsloping cliff band but we encountered two. The first was easily climbed thanks to some rocks which have been piled at the foot of the band and to excellent handholds at the top. The second band had none of these conveniences and we opted to detour left along a cairned track which took us up a gully. Here you can continue up steep slabs or veer right to regain the ridge and a faint track on the right hand side of the ridge. The rest of the ascent was pretty much as Kane describes. It was a warm if smoky day so we were in no hurry to descend but finally we did following the ridge or scree covered slabs and finally a gulley that took us to the trailhead. The consensus was that staying on the ridge would have made for a faster descent.

Thanks to Greg and David for joining the c/s, Damian, on a pleasant day in the mountains.

David and Greg on Big Sister