29 Aug 2026

When Plan A is blown away… get creative. ❄️

A massive westerly system put our plans for glacier ski touring firmly out of the question, so we headed east in search of shelter and snow.

Middle Gorge Hut and the Mistake Valley proved to be a great alternative — just far enough east to escape the worst of the weather, with some surprisingly good turns to be found. A cosy hut day, followed by a snowy walk out (definitely better than walking in the rain!) with creek crossings providing an entertaining challenge.

By the end of the week, we were exploring the slopes of the Awakino ski area — making the most of the conditions and proving once again that Kiwi ski touring trips are as much about adapting to the weather as they are about the original plan.

Sometimes it’s surprising how good a Plan B can be. 🎿🏔️

📸 A. Reiser

#SkiTouring #BackcountrySkiing #TekapoAdventures #NZweather #SouthernAlps