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Story: Mountaineering

New equipment

Image
New equipment

By 1939, climbers such as these on Canterbury’s Mt Rolleston were able to climb an ice slope which slanted outwards using crampons and pitons.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Making New Zealand Centennial Collection (PAColl-3060)

Reference: MNZ-1304-1/4-F

by S. G. Conway

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

John Wilson, Mountaineering – The age of the amateur, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/10501/new-equipment (accessed 10 June 2026).

Story by John Wilson, published 2 March 2009, updated 1 February 2017.

Comments

Christine McCallister
08 December 2013
Barn Find - In my Father's endless items I found a old Ice Axe. Looks like a Simons Ice Axe but my Ice Axe does not have any none markings. The length is 37 1/2" long and it does have the 6 blade teeth. She has the Hand strap burlap type material with the moving ring that slides up nad down the wood shaft. One fitted bras ring round the bottom of the wood shaft about 4 1/2" from the fitted bottom spike. All original patina. Wood shaft looks like Oak but might be a Alder wood. Onkown.......I could send needed pictures of my old Ice Axe if interested. Christine McCallister