Mount Gunn is a mountain in Southland, New Zealand.
Description Mount Gunn is part of the Darran Mountains and is situated in the Southland Region of South Island. It is set within Fiordland National Park which is part of the Te Wahipounamu UNESCO World Heritage Site. Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains to the Hollyford River via Marian Creek and Caples Creek. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises above the Hollyford Valley in four kilometres and above Caples Creek in two kilometres.
History The mountain was named after Davey Gunn (1887–1955), promoter of the Hollyford Track.Mount Gunn, New Zealand Gazetteer, Retrieved 19 December 2024. He was a farmer and bushman, running his cattle in the glacier-cut Hollyford Valley. Gunn drowned in the Hollyford River in 1955.The Rough Guide to New Zealand: Travel Guide eBook, Rough Guides, Apa Publications (UK) Limited, 2024, . The first ascent of the summit was made in 1959 by Bob Cuthill and Denise Schonyan.Mt Gunn, New Zealand Alpine Club, Climbnz.org, Retrieved 19 December 2024.
Climate Based on the Köppen climate classification, Mount Gunn is located in a marine west coast climate zone.Te Anau Climate (New Zealand), climate-data.org, Retrieved 19 December 2024. Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountain, where the air is forced upward by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain and snow. This climate supports small unnamed glaciers on the southwest slope. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.The Best Time to Visit the South Island, nzpocketguide.com, Retrieved 19 December 2024.
See also List of mountains of New Zealand by height Fiordland
References
External links Mount Gunn: weather