23 Sep 2026

A pretty special week ski touring on the glaciers. ❄️⛷️

We scored a good run of weather and made the most of it — from the Murchison Headwall and Mannering Glacier to the Darwin Bowls and the shoulder of Hochstetter Dome, where we stopped for a snack with views all the way out towards the West Coast and Tasman Sea.

We skied through the incredible ice formations of Canyonlands, toured up the Bonney Glacier to Turnbull Saddle for lunch with the Minarets spread out in front of us, and found sheltered corners amongst the ice to escape the wind.

There was good skiing to be found too — picking our way through pockets of powder and making the most of some beautifully creamy spring corn.

A happy hut day in the middle gave us a chance to rest the legs, brush up on crevasse rescue skills and team up with fellow IFMGA guide Petrouchka and her group.

All up, a fantastic week in an extraordinary place. Big mountains, glaciers, great company and plenty of turns. 🏔️

🔗 https://alpinerecreation.com/new-zealand-backcountry-skiing-and-split-boarding/new-zealands-best-glacier-touring-and-ski-mountaineering/ski-mount-cook-and-westland-glaciers

📷 @elke_mountain_guide

#SkiMountaineering #GlacierSkiing #SkiTouring #BackcountrySkiing #AorakiMountCookNatinalPark