Recently Gaz, Bill, Matt and Mark enjoyed excellent weather and snow conditions on a ski tour based out of Tasman saddle hut.
ski touring thru “canyon lands” Tasman glacier
Tasman Saddle ski tour
Category Archives: Latest News
Ski touring @ remarkables
Recent snow falls have left the back country ski touring conditions in NZ magnificent. A few days ago, Iris , Gary and two friends from Queenstown did a day ski tour off the back of the very accessible Remarkables ski area, into Y creek.
Skinning back up to curvy basin saddle on recent day Ski tour @ Remarkables.
photo credit : Sue Notley
Fresh winter snow – September ski touring in NZ. Photo credit: Sue Notley
Private Swiss Mountain Guiding Lagginhorn
Over the weekend, Gary and Anand climbed the classic 4010m Swiss peak, the Lagginhorn. Mainly PD alpine rock, with crampons being worn on the last hour of the ascent. A dusting of fresh snow and a very breezy and fresh North wind greeted them on the summit slopes. A great vista was quickly admired as it was below zero degrees on the summit and the wind chill made for a short summit stop.
Private Swiss summit mountain guiding – Anand ontop the summit of the Lagginhorn 4010m, Switzerland
Swiss multipitch rock climbing
Recently Gary and Iris have been out cranking some classic big multipitch rock routes.Fabulous sunny weather, and great, inspirational rock.
Classic Swiss granite slab climbing
Inspirational Swiss rock climbing
Iris belaying on 10 pitch ‘le singe’
Classic Swiss mountaineering
Mt Blanc du Cheilon 3,869m “undoubtedly one of the most beautiful peaks in the Western Valais….” A perfect 3 day adventure completed by Mountain Guide Gary Dickson and Anand.
Yes, this is a fantastic classic Swiss alpine mountaineering trip with a superb Cabane ( Cabane des Dix) as the launch point. Fine alpine rock ridge travel then superb views of the Matterhorn, Dent Blanche and Dent d Herens at the summit ridge and then fun, exposed ridge travel and a final summit mini pitch to the very ‘airy’ summit where one can look directly down the very steep north face to the Cabane Dix 1000m below.
Crampon time
Matterhorn background
Summit ridge
Climbing in Switzerland
Sunday/Monday, Anand and Gary headed to the Cabane d’Orny for some classic Swiss alpinism. After the hike to the cabane , they enjoyed some rock climbing on granite routes behind the hut in the afternoon sun. Then next morning they went up the ‘Orny glacier to the Trient plateau and up the rocky ridge on the left side of the north face of the Tete blanche, then over to the Summit of the Petite Fourche, then a descent to a fixed rappel point, over the bergshrund and a cruise back to the Cabane for a well deserved rosti…..
High on the Tete Blanche, classic Swiss alpinism
Alpinism in Switzerland on the Trient ice plateau
Swiss summit – Petite Fourche
Swiss summer climbing
Back in Leysin , Switzerland for the I think 19th season. Still very beautiful. Been climbing multipitch rock with Iris in the Grimsel pass granite area and now over in the Swiss French region of Switzerland where we base our selves for the two months of July and August.
pitch three, granite slab climbing, Central Switzerland
Ski Touring in NZ
It’s storming outside, and snowing in the backcountry. Another log goes on the fire in our base here in Wanaka, NZ. Yes we are about to head over to Switzerland for 3 Months( for the Swiss summer), and then return for what looks like a great ski touring season shaping up.
Ski touring in September and October might be something you are thinking about. At that time of the winter, there will be maximum snow, more stable snow pack and warmer temperatures up high at 2400m where we stay in the NZ mountain huts and go touring. The most fantastic time to go touring in the big mountains and glaciers in the backcountry.
It’s not too early to think about and get in touch.
Glaciated Beauty and fun times
Ski touring on Fox glacier
Ski touring accommodation in NZ
Switzerland Guiding
July and August , there is still a bit of space available to book IFMGA mountain guide Gary Dickson for some mountain guiding or a climbing instruction course in the Swiss alps.
Warm summer alpine rock, Swiss glaciers, snowy ridges, Swiss cheese, cow bells. Come and enjoy Switzerland with us.
Mountain climbing in Switzerland
Classic alpine Swiss mountain ridges
Happy Swiss times
Climbing in Switzerland?
Mid June , the Alpinism and Ski Team will be heading to Switzerland again for the Summer European Alpine season. Come join us for fantastic climbing and mountaineering adventures in one of the worlds finest and very accessable alpine playgrounds.
Fine Swiss rock
Alpine peak splendor