News & Updates

News & Updates

Follow the latest news from Alpine Recreation, including guided trips, alpine courses, ski touring adventures, trip reports, mountain conditions, and upcoming events. Browse our recent newsletters and social media updates to stay connected with what’s happening in the mountains and find inspiration for your next alpine adventure.

- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 1
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 2
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 3
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 4
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 5
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 6
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 7
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 8
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 9
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 10
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 11
- ❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️ We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! 12
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23 Jul 2025

❄️ Winter Mountaineering in the Cass Valley ❄️

We’ve just wrapped up a Winter Mountaineering Course based out of O’Leary’s Hut — and what a week it was! Stunning conditions, solid snow coverage for July, and a motivated crew made for an epic few days learning essential alpine skills.

Using snowshoes for access and travel, we covered a full progression of winter mountaineering techniques:
🔹 Ice axe and crampon use
🔹 Snow and ice movement skills
🔹 Self-arrest techniques
🔹 Route selection and safe travel
🔹 Avalanche awareness and companion rescue
🔹 Snow anchors and belaying
🔹 Roped glacier travel
🔹 Emergency shelters and survival skills

The final day saw us tackle a high traverse over the ridgeline to Tin Hut Stream — incredible views, good decisions, and a great way to put it all into practice.

O’Leary’s Hut made for the perfect base: warm, private, and deep in the backcountry. Can’t beat soaking up stars from the wood-fired hot tub after a big day in the hills 🌌🏔️

Keen to build your winter mountain skills? Join us for the next course!

📍 Cass Valley | Guided by IFMGA/NZMGA professionals

📸 @elke_mountain_guide

#WinterMountaineering #CassValley #AlpineSkills #Snowshoeing #BackcountryNZ #OLearysHut #MountaineeringSkills #AlpineRecreation #NZMGA #WeAreIFMGA

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