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21 Oct 2026

Symphony on Skis. From high glaciers to the Godley Valley.

Another early start at Kelman Hut, and another unforgettable moment in the mountains: crossing Tasman Saddle as the sun rose.

Then the long descent into the Murchison, followed by the climb up the Aida and over a high pass between Mt Richmond and Mt Acland. From there, a spectacular descent towards the Godley Valley — a line few get to ski.

Except the snowline had other ideas for our final descent to valley floor. The usual descent gully was out of the question, with loose rock exposed beneath thin snow cover. Time to switch from ski mountaineering to alpine trekking.

What followed was a careful descent through rough scree, boulders and dense scrub — a proper test of endurance before finally reaching the valley floor. Then another 8 km on foot to meet our patiently waiting 4WD at the Rankin Hut site.

The Symphony has always been a special route, but glacial recession and a higher-than-usual snowline this season are changing the challenge. Adaptability is part of the journey.

From powder to corn, glacier travel to scree and scrub, this traverse delivered the full mountain experience.

A memorable journey from the West Coast glaciers to the Godley Valley, and one we’ll be talking about for a long time.

📷 @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 #MountainAdventure #WeAreIFMGA

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