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19 Oct 2026

Symphony on Skis. What a traverse.

From the glaciers of the West Coast to the Godley Valley, this one had a bit of everything.

A spectacular lunch on Von Bulow, overlooking the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. Then several days spent waiting out storms at Centennial Hut, powder laps between weather systems, then the window we’d been waiting for. Graham Saddle our highest pass, then skiing steep couloirs down beside the Rudolf Glacier, a long haul up the Tasman to Kelman Hut, and a first-light crossing of Tasman Saddle.

From there, corn turns, big mountain views and a long descent towards the Godley Valley — finishing on foot through scree, boulders and classic Kiwi scrub.

It took patience, preparation and good timing, along with a healthy dose of determination. With a high snowline and glaciers that have changed considerably over the years, the Symphony is a serious ski mountaineering undertaking.

A whole lot of terrain, some weather-enforced hut time, some unforgettable skiing and an adventure we won’t forget in a hurry.

The Symphony on Skis. Earned turn by turn.

📷 @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 #SouthernAlps #GlacierSkiing #WeAreIFMGA

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