{{Short description|Mountain in New Zealand}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=December 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2024}} {{Infobox mountain | name = Aiguilles Rouges | image = Aiguilles Rouges NZ.jpg | image_caption = Northwest aspect | elevation_m = 2950. | elevation_ref =<ref name=topomap>[https://www.topomap.co.nz/NZTopoMap/nz26621/Aiguilles-Rouges/Canterbury ''Aiguilles Rouges, Canterbury''], NZTopoMap, Retrieved 26 December 2024.</ref><ref name=peakbagger>{{cite peakbagger|pid=33629|name=Aiguilles Rouges, New Zealand|access-date=26 December 2024}}</ref> | prominence_m = 230. | prominence_ref =<ref name=peakbagger/> | isolation_km = 1.53 | isolation_ref =<ref name=peakbagger/> | parent_peak = | listing = Mountains of New Zealand | etymology = Aiguilles Rouges (Red Needles) | range = Southern Alps<br />Malte Brun Range<ref name=climbnz/> | part_type = Protected area | part = Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park | country = New Zealand | location = South Island | region = Canterbury | region_type = Region | map = New Zealand | map_caption = Location in New Zealand | label_position = bottom | coordinates = {{coord|43|34|39|S|170|17|30|E|type:mountain_region:NZ|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_ref =<ref name=peakbagger/> | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 8 | mapframe-caption = Interactive map of Aiguilles Rouges | topo_map = NZMS260 ''I36''<ref name=NZGB/><br />Topo50 ''BX16''<ref name=climbnz/> | age = | rock = | easiest_route = | first_ascent = March 1909 }}
'''Aiguilles Rouges''' is a {{convert|2950.|metre|ft|adj=mid|-elevation|abbr=off}} mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.
==Description== Aiguilles Rouges is set in the Malte Brun Range of the Southern Alps and is situated in the Canterbury Region of South Island.<ref name=climbnz/> This remote peak is located {{convert|12|km|mi}} east-northeast of Aoraki / Mount Cook in Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises over {{convert|1900.|m|ft|abbr=off}} above the Murchison Valley in three kilometres. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Tasman River. The nearest higher peak is Mount Chudleigh, 1.53 kilometres to the southwest.<ref name=peakbagger/> The first ascent of the summit was made in March 1909 by Peter Graham and Laurence Earle.<ref name=climbnz/> The mountain's toponym was applied by Laurence Earle who named the peak after Aiguilles Rouges in the French Prealps.<ref name=NZGB>[https://gazetteer.linz.govt.nz/place/15222 ''Aiguilles Rouges''], New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 26 December 2024.</ref><ref>''Appendix to the Journals of the House of Representatives of New Zealand, Volume 4'', New Zealand. Parliament. House of Representatives, 1909, Appendix I, p.14.</ref> The translation from French is "Red Needles."
==Climbing== Climbing routes and the first ascents:<ref name=climbnz>[https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/aoraki/malte-brun-range/aiguilles-rouges ''Aiguilles Rouges''], New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 26 December 2024.</ref>
* North Ridge – Laurence Earle, Peter Graham – (1909) * North East Ridge (descent) – Laurence Earle, Peter Graham – (1909) * North East Flank – Freda Du Faur, Peter Graham – (1913) * East Ridge – M.J.P. Glasgow, Harry Stevenson – (1951) * West Ridge – Ian Cave, Mike Gill, John Nichols – (1960) * South Face – Dave Bamford, John Nankervis – (1980) * Intermediate Ridge – Ross Cullen, Chris Knol – (1982) * Central Gully – Ako Groot, Hawke Groot – (1991) * ''Tiddley Pom'' – Jo Kippax, Sean Waters – (1992)
==Climate== Based on the Köppen climate classification, Aiguilles Rouges is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone, with a subpolar oceanic climate (Cfc) at the summit.<ref>[https://en.climate-data.org/oceania/new-zealand/canterbury/christchurch-4978/ ''Christchurch Climate (New Zealand)''], climate-data.org, Retrieved 26 December 2024.</ref> Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upward by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. This climate supports the Beetham, Cascade, Onslow, and Barkley glaciers surrounding the peak. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.<ref>[https://nzpocketguide.com/the-best-time-to-visit-the-south-island/ ''The Best Time to Visit the South Island''], nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 26 December 2024.</ref>
==Gallery== <div style="max-width: 460px;"> <gallery mode=slideshow> File:Malte Brun Range south.jpg|South aspect of Malte Brun Range. L→Rː Chudleigh, Aiguilles Rouges, Malte Brun, Hamilton, Haeckel Peak. File:Malte Brun Range crop.jpg|Malte Brun Range and Tasman Glacier with Aiguilles Rouges centred, Malte Brun (left) and Mount Chudleigh (right) </gallery> </div>
==See also== * List of mountains of New Zealand by height
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * Aiguilles Rouges: [https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/aoraki/malte-brun-range/aiguilles-rouges New Zealand Alpine Club] * Aiguilles Rouges: [https://www.yr.no/en/forecast/daily-table/2-6211145/New%20Zealand/Canterbury/Mackenzie%20District/Aiguilles%20Rouges weather]
{{Geographic Location 2 | Center = Aiguilles Rouges | North = Beetham Glacier | Northeast = Malte Brun | East = Cascade Glacier | Southeast = Murchison River | South = Onslow Glacier | Southwest = Mount Chudleigh | West = Barkley Glacier | Northwest = Tasman Glacier }} {{Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park}} {{Portal bar|Mountains|Geography|Geology|New Zealand}}
Category:Southern Alps Category:Mountains of the Canterbury Region Category:Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park