Blimit

Blimit is a 1,921-metre-elevation (6,302-foot) mountain in the Canterbury Region of New Zealand.

Blimit
South aspect
Highest point
Elevation	1,921 m (6,302 ft)[1][2]
Prominence	147 m (482 ft)[2]
Isolation	1.8 km (1.1 mi)[2]
Coordinates	42.911977°S 171.590701°E / -42.911977; 171.590701[2]
Geography
Blimit Location in New Zealand
Interactive map of Blimit
Location	South Island
Country	New Zealand
Region	Canterbury
Protected area	Arthur's Pass National Park
Parent range	Southern Alps[3]
Geology
Rock age	Triassic[4]
Rock type	Rakaia Terrane[4]

Description

Blimit is located four kilometres (2.5 mi) north-northeast of Arthur's Pass in Arthur's Pass National Park and is set in the Southern Alps of the South Island.^[2] Precipitation runoff from the mountain drains west to the Bealey River and east into the headwaters of the Mingha River. Topographic relief is significant as the summit rises 620 metres (2,034 feet) above the Mingha headwaters in one kilometre. The nearest higher peak is Phipps Peak, 1.8 kilometres to the north.^[2] The mountain's toponym has been officially approved by the New Zealand Geographic Board and is a blend word of "bail limit" which is the officially recognised form of the mountaineer's longstanding expletive for abandoning a climb before reaching the top, often due to fatigue or realising the route is beyond capabilities.^[3]

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, Blimit is located in a marine west coast (Cfb) climate zone.^[5] Prevailing westerly winds blow moist air from the Tasman Sea onto the mountains, where the air is forced upwards by the mountains (orographic lift), causing moisture to drop in the form of rain or snow. This climate supports the Temple Basin ski area on the west slope of the peak. The months of December through February offer the most favourable weather for viewing or climbing this peak.^[6]

Climate data for Arthurs Pass Village (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1978–present)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	32.1 (89.8)	29.5 (85.1)	26.4 (79.5)	22.5 (72.5)	17.6 (63.7)	14.0 (57.2)	12.8 (55.0)	14.3 (57.7)	20.0 (68.0)	22.5 (72.5)	26.2 (79.2)	27.6 (81.7)	32.1 (89.8)
Mean maximum °C (°F)	25.6 (78.1)	25.4 (77.7)	22.4 (72.3)	17.8 (64.0)	14.4 (57.9)	11.1 (52.0)	9.9 (49.8)	12.0 (53.6)	14.9 (58.8)	18.0 (64.4)	20.7 (69.3)	23.4 (74.1)	27.2 (81.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	18.3 (64.9)	18.6 (65.5)	16.1 (61.0)	12.7 (54.9)	9.7 (49.5)	6.7 (44.1)	6.0 (42.8)	7.6 (45.7)	9.8 (49.6)	11.7 (53.1)	13.9 (57.0)	16.5 (61.7)	12.3 (54.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)	13.3 (55.9)	13.4 (56.1)	11.2 (52.2)	8.3 (46.9)	5.8 (42.4)	3.0 (37.4)	2.2 (36.0)	3.5 (38.3)	5.5 (41.9)	7.3 (45.1)	9.3 (48.7)	11.8 (53.2)	7.9 (46.2)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	8.3 (46.9)	8.2 (46.8)	6.3 (43.3)	4.0 (39.2)	1.9 (35.4)	−0.6 (30.9)	−1.6 (29.1)	−0.7 (30.7)	1.3 (34.3)	3.0 (37.4)	4.7 (40.5)	7.2 (45.0)	3.5 (38.3)
Mean minimum °C (°F)	2.5 (36.5)	2.3 (36.1)	−0.4 (31.3)	−2.2 (28.0)	−3.9 (25.0)	−6.7 (19.9)	−7.5 (18.5)	−6.2 (20.8)	−4.5 (23.9)	−2.7 (27.1)	−1.4 (29.5)	1.3 (34.3)	−8.3 (17.1)
Record low °C (°F)	−1.0 (30.2)	−1.5 (29.3)	−8.5 (16.7)	−7.8 (18.0)	−7.5 (18.5)	−11.5 (11.3)	−12.5 (9.5)	−11.0 (12.2)	−8.2 (17.2)	−6.1 (21.0)	−5.0 (23.0)	−1.4 (29.5)	−12.5 (9.5)
Average rainfall mm (inches)	413.5 (16.28)	272.6 (10.73)	321.2 (12.65)	370.3 (14.58)	395.0 (15.55)	378.1 (14.89)	328.4 (12.93)	353.0 (13.90)	452.5 (17.81)	489.4 (19.27)	438.6 (17.27)	447.7 (17.63)	4,660.3 (183.49)
Average relative humidity (%)	77	78	82	86	88	90	88	87	84	81	78	78	83
Source 1: NIWA [7]
Source 2: "Arthur's Pass – Weather Database"[8]

Climbing

Climbing routes:^[9]

• Via Temple Basin
• Via Cons Track
• Aicken–Blimit Traverse

See also

• List of mountains of New Zealand by height