Tag Archives: ski touring new zealand

From climbing in Europe to ski touring in NZ

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A mountaineering guest of ISM – International School of Mountaineering – sent this feedback about a week with our chief guide Gaz in the Swiss Alps during last August:

Hi Gary,
Just a quick note to say thank you for a great week in the hills last week, even if the weather didn’t fully cooperate.  Your deep knowledge of “the alpine”, your participation in international guide diplomacy/policy making, your teaching abilities (and patience), your local community involvement, your broad and varied interests, your good company, and of course your sense of humor are nothing short of inspiring.  All of the rest of us have a lot to work on…

Thanks Ed!

Alpinism adventures from Wanaka

Early morning full moon over Treble Cone in September

Alpinism adventures, from ski touring to rock climbing

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Mountain Guiding NZ

Winter views from the Alpinism & Ski base in Wanaka

A month has flown by and the change from ski touring in New Zealand into the Northern summer season and mountain guiding in the Swiss Alps has gone smoothly. The long winter here has left many places with lots of snow which is excellent for mountaineering addicts, especially on glaciated terrain. Because of the everlasting snow falls during Spring, the awesome and colorful flora is still displaying many more beauties than usual during this time of the year. Gary was with James at the Dix hut last week to climb Mont Blanc de Cheillon. Continue reading →

Ski Touring in New Zealand

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Ski touring in New Zealand

A fine day in the Southern Alps during September

Ski touring has been the main subject since our return from Switzerland a few weeks ago. Three Australian guests visited Fox Glacier and Pioneer hut with Gary, in between the snow storms that rendered the Southern Alps very wintry indeed. Not that much snow around the hut was one of Gaz’ comments. – The next 7 day ski touring adventure started for Charles Day after a day visit to Treble Cone. A legendary mountaineer from way back who knows the mountain guiding scene of New Zealand very well, having had many fine trips with IFMGA guides here, to name but a few Nick Cradock, Anton Wopereis and Dave Hiddleston – he also climbed Mt Aspiring with Geoff Wyatt, walking in and out! but some more photos of ski touring:

ski touring in New Zealand

Glaciated Beauty and fun times

Alpinism adventure

views down Fox glacier and Pioneer ridge towards the sea

Ski touring base

Pioneer hut

 

Ski Touring in New Zealand

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Back in Wanaka for a week now! Returning from our Alpinism activities in Europe, fresh snow has arrived and ski conditions on the local ski fields are the best all winter – so we’ve heard and tested! Iris checked it out during mid week and thoroughly enjoyed Treble Cone while Gary with his team of three keen ski tourers flew up from Fox Glacier to roam the areas near Pioneer and Centennial hut.

Ski Touring in October 2012: there is a window for a private ski touring adventure with chief Mountain Guide Gaz in person, choose your 6 or 7 day trip between 6th – 16th Oct. 2012, bookings taken now, email for inquiries.

Ski Touring in New Zealand

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We are still  in Switzerland, currently enjoying a week of rock climbing sessions on beautiful lime stone formations above Leysin.  Only a few weeks before we are back in Wanaka and welcoming our first ski touring team of the season for a trip mid September. Guided trekking excursions will start up again and we are counting on some more snow to fall for our return, to have some fun on the local ski fields. The best times for ski touring adventures in the Southern Alps of New Zealand in our humble opinion is during September and October. Days are longer and snow conditions often optimal, with participants having had time to acquire winter fitness on skis or snowboard.

Back country ski touring in New Zealand

Fabulous terrain for back country adventures

Mt Cook climb, Ski touring and Alpine trekking

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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

Mountaineering course, ski touring and trekking in NZ

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Ski touring with a mountain guide

Ski Touring in the Southern Alps of New Zealand

September and October are perfect to explore the glaciated and grandiose terrain amongst the main divide. A keen team, Linda, Rob and Kerryn, came from Australia to practice their mountaineering and ski touring skills in preparation for an adventure in Patagonia. Based at Tasman Saddle hut in Mt Cook National Park, they enjoyed pretty good weather, awesome views and some wonderful moments:

Wintermountaineering and ski touring

adventures amongst the highest mountains of NZ

New Zealand ski touring with a mountain guide

late winter fun on a ski touring trip

ski touring and mountaineering private instruction courses

the smile says it all, here at Tasman Saddle hut

Now, chief mountain guide Gaz is on handyman duty before his next ski touring trip, while Iris is off to Rob Roy glacier cirque for a guided trekking excursion.

Back in Wanaka for ski touring, winter mountaineering

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Alpinism & Ski team Gaz and Iris are back in Wanaka where more snow has fallen a couple of days ago, a top up as usual for our return from our climbing activities in Europe and we look forward to some fun on skis. Sunday, Gary is off with a team of three for a six day winter mountaineering adventure.

The scheduled ski touring trip in September is closed but four spaces are available for the ski  tour in October and one person is very keen for YOU to join up and to make it happen, so get in touch for details by e-mail

ski touring in New Zealand

views from a day trip ski tour adventure at the Remarkables

Avalanche course, winter mountaineering, ski touring in NZ

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Just a few lucky avalanche shots while on a trekking adventure over Ball Pass last summer in New Zealand

Alpinism photography

Caroline face, Mt Cook Aoraki NZ, Dec 2010

alpinism experiences in NZ

Avalanche course anybody?

summer avalanche lucky shot

Close up avalanche action in the middle of the climbing season

Gary is guiding a father-son team for ISM in the beautiful alpine play area of Trient glacier, Orny hut – a fabulous play ground for mountaineers and climbers, along the Swiss-French border ridge lines. It’s raining in Leysin, easy to get our minds into move-on mode and therefore ski touring, avalanche courses and winter mountaineering in New Zealand… but, before then, the Alpinism & Ski team is taking a break:

the global office is officially closed – between 23 August and 7th September

as Gaz and Iris will be gone on their private adventure

So, if you’d like to inquire or book your special dream trip, just do it before then 🙂

Alpinism & Culture

Climbing in Swiss Alps: Alpinism and Culture, ibex sculpture at the Orny hut,

Ski touring in NZ

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sept/oct time for NZ ski touring

Now is the time to start getting excited about ski touring in NZ

Ski touring based from a mountain hut like this one - murchesion hut

2m of snow in the upper basin of treble cone ski feild - much more at Glacier level!

Big glaciers, sun , fantastic back country skiing with a guide

Time to contact Alpinism and Ski if you are thinking about a backcountry skiing trip in September or October

The back country snow base is building up, settling and forming into a fantastic cover for ski touring in Septmeber  and October – get fit and work on your off piste skiing over the next weeks and THEN its time for the backcountry – yehaa…..