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20 Oct 2026

Symphony on Skis. The waiting game. And then, go time.

The Symphony began in spectacular fashion, flying into the West Coast glaciers in perfect weather. Lunch on Von Bulow, with Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers spread out below us, was a pretty special way to start.

Then the weather rolled in.

A NW storm, followed by a brutally cold southerly, kept us at Centennial Hut while we watched the forecasts, tracked conditions and waited for our opportunity. We made good use of the downtime, revising crevasse rescue systems and brushing up on the rope, crampon and glacier travel skills needed for the crossing of the Main Divide. And whenever the weather allowed, there were powder laps to be had on the Franz Josef Glacier.

Patience paid off. Our window arrived, and we crossed Graham Saddle to Kelman Hut, with conditions good enough to ski the steep couloirs beside the Rudolf Glacier. An absolutely thrilling descent.

We’d expected at least two hours of moraine bashing around De La Beche corner. Instead, we were onto the white ice in an hour, ready for the long skin up the Tasman Glacier — with a detour through Canyonlands, threading our way past crevasses and ice tunnels.

Our highest pass done. More to come.

📷 @elke_mountain_guide

🔗 https://alpinerecreation.com/new-zealand-backcountry-skiing-and-split-boarding/new-zealand-ski-traverses-and-backcountry-expeditions/symphony-on-skis

#SymphonyOnSkis #SkiMountaineering #GlacierSkiing #SouthernAlps #WeAreIFMGA

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