Mount Usborne

Mount Usborne rises to 705 metres in the middle of East Falkland and is the highest point in the islands, a long quartzite ridge rather than a peak, with stone runs pouring down its flanks and small corries on the southern side holding the only ground in the Falklands that carries lasting snow. The walk up is not technical but it is long, exposed and entirely without shelter.

What you actually see

• The summit ridge - 705 metres, the highest ground in the islands.
• The stone runs - rivers of quartzite boulders down the flanks.
• The corries - the small hollows on the southern side that hold snow.
• The view - much of East Falkland visible in clear weather.

When to go

November to March is the practical window. Cloud covers the ridge frequently in any season. Winter conditions on the top are genuinely dangerous.

Honest expectations

There is no marked path and navigation matters in cloud, which is common. The ground is boggy and the stone runs are hard going. Permission from the landowner is required and there is no rescue capability.

Nearby

Goose Green is south, and Stanley is east.