Tag Archives: Alpinism in New Zealand

Intermediate-advanced climbing course

Posted on by
climbing course - learning to place ice screws

learning to place ice screws on a climbing course

End of the month, two fit fellas will be arriving from Aussie to go on an intermediate-advanced climbing course with mountain guide Gaz.  The NZ weather looks to have settled into a more settled state of play and alpine conditions look excellent for the 10 day specialized mountain training.

If you are  looking for a climbing course we have  two sceduled courses comming up:

  • Intro to alpinism    –    6 days  20th-25th February
  • Total Alpinism         –   7  days  04th-10th March

If you are an individual or a group looking to have a week of private mountaineering instruction, just get in touch and we can see if we can fit around your schedule.

 

Mountaineering with Gary Dickson, Alpinism & Ski Wanaka – NZ and Europe

Posted on by

Here some memorabilia of Alpinism during the last decade: youtube legendary Doug Ball who spent considerable time climbing with mountain guide Gary Dickson aka Gaz from January 2006 until August 2009.

Climbing Mt Aspiring

Doug Ball, 79, on Mt Aspiring, New Zealand

Doug Ball on the Fiescherhorn with mountain guide Gary Dickson

Doug at 80, climbing a few peaks over 4000m in a week in Switzerland

climbing in the Swiss Alps

Doug climbing high above the Dossenhütte, Kingspitze in the back ground

Doug had climbed Mt Cook Aoraki with his wife Peggy and many other peaks, but never Mt Aspiring. He got thwarted twice while climbing with Gaz because of conditions and weather but third time lucky and for a brief time he was considered the oldest climber to have sumited. He must have been an inspiration … more

Doug and Mt Tasman in the back ground

Based at Centennial hut for some more alpine climbing

He sent us these lines just recently …”I use a slide show of my mountaineering photos as a screen saver so that my memories are not lost but are refreshed every day. Alpinism and Ski certainly made an enormous difference to my life. What would have become of me if I had just thrown in the sponge after Peggy died?  I have so much to thank you both for and am not likely to ever forget it.”

keep going strong Doug

Mt Cook climb, Ski touring and Alpine trekking

Posted on by

Typical NZ Spring storms are coming through and just last week we had fresh snow all around the mountains near Wanaka.  October ended with our ski touring team coming out of Tasman Saddle hut, a successful Copeland pass alpine trekking traverse and a Mount Cook climb that could not eventuate because of the full on weather and avalanche dangers. IFMGA mountain guide Sean Brooks with mountaineer Rob had an interesting time at Plateau hut with the wind keeping them awake during the nights spent up there. Chief mountain guide Gary Dickson sat out the storm with VIP team Phil, Bill, John and Geoff and they managed a good number of excellent ski turns in the surrounding areas for the next couple of days, finishing with a splendid ski down the Tasman Glacier. However, they witnessed lots of avalanche activity too. NZMGA mountain guide Pete James with Darrin were also in the area, waiting in Mt Cook village for the weather to clear enough. After they saw the Chamoix bar windows blown out and the storm finally calming down, they were able to cross the Main Divide and here some photos (all by Pete James) telling more:

Climbing up towards Copeland Shelter

Climbing up towards Copeland Shelter

Copeland Shelter in Mt Cook Nat. Park

The shelter and Copeland pass behind it

Darrin on the Copeland Pass

Darrin on the Copeland Pass, Mt Cook Nat. Park

Ascent of Mt Aspiring – Tititea

Posted on by

The highest mountain in Mount Aspiring National Park is very popular as an alternative to Mt Cook when the Linda Glacier route is dodgy and during the first week of January, Anthony enjoyed this climb with mountain guide Gaz.

Mt Aspiring, 3033 m

Mountain guiding up the NW ridge of Mt Aspiring

Descending Mt Aspiring

coming down the NW ridge of Mt Aspiring after a successful ascent

Mt Aspiring

Colin Todd hut, most often the start to climbing Mt Aspiring

latest events of Alpinism & Ski Wanaka

Posted on by

First seven days of the New Year: a lot of water everywhere. Somehow we managed the most awesome adventure activities on the few sunny days. Gary went from sailing to an ascents climb of Mt Aspiring, with Anthony visiting from Hongkong. The two of them stood on Mt Tasman five years ago and a potential next alpinism mission was mentioned.

Mountain Guide Captain Gaz

Excellent 1st January sailing, into the mountains next

Mt Aspiring National Park, Rob Roy track

Wanaka New Zealand, base for Alpinism adventures

Alpinism & Ski's 1st trip of the year

Mt Aspiring - Tititea, 3033 m