Mount Talbot .

Mount Talbot is in New Zealand's South Island. It looms ahead as the Milford Sound road is followed towards the Homer Tunnel.

The Hollyford river is small here, in its headwaters, and runs in a U shaped valley, carved by glaciers during the ice age. Further down, the Hollyford valley has a popular tramping track. The river enlarges there, from snow fed tributaries and is dangerous to ford.

Here the photographer safely got his feet wet, crouching beside a low tripod, set in the stream, to keep the Homer tunnel road hidden behind vegetation.

Straight up the river you can see a fan of rock debris from avalanches and erosion. There are other fans at the base of the valley walls. (Look both sides of the picture to see the bottoms of the nearest fans.)

This photograph was taken in autumn, when the snow fields are at a minimum.

Avalanches are common in spring, crashing from high ice fields down the vertical cliffs of the U valley, with hardly a warning sound. After the damage has already happened, an impressive rumble is heard. People were killed during construction of the Homer tunnel by avalanches. A blast of air, compressed ahead of the falling snow, did extensive damage even before the ice and rocks hit them.

The road to Milford sound was previously closed in avalanche season, but the demands of tourism keep it open now, with a warning not to linger under the precarious snow-fields. If there is a snow build-up, threatening an avalanche, explosives are used to set it off when nobody is in the danger zone.

Mt Talbot. (This picture has been sold and is no longer available)

Mt Talbot

Image by John Wattie

This photograph has been purchased and is no longer for sale.

Back to New Zealand Calendar Images
for more mountain scenery: Go To Arthur's Pass,  or   Mt Ruapehu
Climb in the dark inside caves

For Mt Talbot as a water applet, go to:    http://bobdj.tripod.com/
A water applet is a lovely effect, which makes it look as if the mountain is reflected in rippling water. Bob Desjardin has specialised in this technique and has kindly included Mt Talbot in his collection, along with other beautiful scenes.