Ski Touring - Mount Cook & Westland Glaciers

NZ$ exchange rate

Included:

• IFMGA/NZMGA certified mountain and ski guide
• National Park fees
• Hut accommodation
• Local accommodation for any nights required during the trip
• Free transport (Tekapo - Mt. Cook return)
• ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the trip
• ALL avalanche safety and ski mountaineering equipment and clothing (with the exception of ski boots and split-board setups)

Meals and accommodation before/after the trip are NOT included. Additional vehicle costs may apply for Fox & Franz Josef Glacier venues.

Green : Minimum reached - guaranteed departure.
Orange : Only 4 or fewer places available.
Red : No availability.

♀ : Exclusive girls-only trip, with female guides.

Tasman & Murchison Glaciers

East of the Main Divide, the Tasman and Murchison Glaciers often enjoy better snow conditions and calmer weather than their West Coast neighbours. The Tasman Glacier offers many runs of gentle gradient and can be a great introduction to the area. In good conditions, Hochstetter Dome, is an achieveable first ascent for those interested in getting into some mountaineering. For more experienced ski tourers, the Murchison Glacier, Mannering and Aida Glaciers as well as the Darwin and Bonney Glaciers offer many rewarding ski runs. Ski descents are possible from Mount Phyllis, Mount Sydney King and Mount Aylmer. For expert skiers, Mount Green and Elie de Beaumont are outstanding peaks that may be attempted if conditions and ski ability permit.

Kelman Hut and Tasman Saddle Hut are located at the head of the Tasman Glacier and provide a great base for day trips on the Tasman Glacier and its surrounding peaks and side glaciers. The Murchison, Aida and Mannering Glaciers and their surrounding peaks and passes, can also be accessed from the upper Tasman Glacier via the Murchison Headwall or from our exclusive expedition camp.

Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers

The head of the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers in Westland National Park provide great backcountry ski touring venues on the western side of the Main Divide. While the weather on the West Coast is more changeable, the views over the Tasman Sea are spectacular! Mounts Grey and Lendenfeld may be climbed from Pioneer Hut. The Minarets, Mount von Bulow and Drummond Peak are accessible from Centennial Hut.

It is possible to cross between Pioneer and Centennial Huts via a number of passes in the ridge separating the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. A highlight for competent skiers are the ski-descents from the upper glaciers past ice falls to Chancellor Hut or Almer Hut.

Public Huts

Kelman, Tasman Saddle, Plateau, Pioneer and Centennial Huts are public huts that cannot be booked. The huts work on a first come first served basis. Hut users must carry their own sleeping bags, food, stove, fuel and cooking utensils to the huts as well as some group equipment and their personal equipment. Huts are not heated (which comes as a surprise to many overseas visitors), so we recommend taking plenty of warm clothing!

Aircraft access is required for all glacier venues. Due to significant glacial recession, it is now also necessary to fly out.

Tasman & Murchison Glaciers

Aircraft access is via helicopter or ski plane from Mount Cook Village, with low pick-up options available by helicopter on both glaciers. As there are no huts near these low pick-up points, skiing down is a committing endeavour and will only be an option in good conditions.

Fox & Franz Josef Glaciers

Access is generally from Fox or Franz Josef Glacier townships by helicopter, but in some cases it is also possible to fly from Mount Cook Village. At the end of the trip, it is common to ski down to Chancellor Hut on the Fox Glacier or Almer Hut on the Franz Josef Glacier for a low pick-up. For flights returning to Mount Cook Village, a 'heli-hop' to ski down the Tasman Glacier may be available (at a small surcharge) if pilots' schedules allow.

Ski touring on the glaciers is physically demanding, often involving long climbs and descents through variable and challenging snow conditions. To ensure you have a safe and enjoyable trip, we expect that you have good aerobic fitness and are able to ski safely in glaciated terrain and challenging snow conditions (this means being able to stop and turn when required to avoid falling in crevasses!).

Off Piste Ski Ability

Participants need to be able to ski safely and competently in variable, untracked snow conditions while carrying a 10-12kg pack. Breakable crusts and skiing a fresh track off piste in poor visibility may be somewhat challenging.

Mountaineering Ability

Previous experience with crampons and ice axe and basic rope skills (such as belaying, abseiling and prussicking) are recommended.

Ski Fitness & Recommended Fitness Training

A high level of fitness is required. We recommend cardiovascular sport 3-4 times a week, for example, get out every weekend, plus 2-3 times during the week. At this level you are happy doing a 4-6 hour hill walk, 40-50km cycle or 2-3 hour mountain bike ride without being completely exhausted. On a ski tour, you can skin at 300m/hour for 3-4 hours a day while carrying a light pack (ie. 900-1200m of ascent each day with a 10-12kg pack).

For an easier option we recommend Alpine Touring - Two Thumb Range.

First Day

8:30am gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. You need to bring your own alpine touring boots, but otherwise we can provide all other equipment. Please see the equipment section for details.

Drive one hour to Mount Cook airport and fly in to East Coast venues (Kelman, Tasman Saddle or Plateau Hut). West Coast venues (Centennial or Pioneer Hut) can also be accessed from Mount Cook Airport. Alternatively, weather conditions may dictate driving to the West Coast (6 hours) and taking the shorter flight from there.

After off-loading food and overnight gear at the hut a half-day tour will provide a good warm up for the ski legs. A transceiver training session is common practice on the first day.

Subsequent Day(s)

The guide will assess your skiing ability and offer day tours appropriate to your level. Ski ascents such as Mount Sydney King, Mount Phyllis, Mount Aylmer, Mount von Bulow, Drummond Peak and Hochstetter Dome all provide good skiing opportunities. For more ambitious ski mountaineers (1-2 person groups) 3000m peaks such as Elie de Beaumont, Lendenfeld Peak or the Minarets may be on the menu.

Last Day

From Kelman or Tasman Saddle Hut, ski down to Darwin corner. There may be time for a ski run on the Darwin or Bonney Glaciers before flying out. Alternatively ski down the Murchison Headwall, ski a lap on the Mannering or Aida Glaciers, getting a pickup on the lower Murchison Glacier. From Centennial or Pioneer Hut, fly back to Mt Cook airport, or, if you have driven around to the West Coast, ski down to Chancellor Hut or Almer Hut and fly out from there.

Return to Lake Tekapo, arriving back around 5pm.

Bad Weather Contingencies

If bad weather confines you indoors, the guide can offer instruction on crevasse rescue techniques, avalanche awareness and rescue, navigation, mountain weather or any mountain-related topic you request.

Option: Instruction based course

If you prefer to include more instruction in your week, then please indicate this on your enrolment form. Instruction topics will be more focussed on techniques specific to glaciated terrain and technical mountaineering. To make the most out of this high alpine instruction, it is recommended that you are already a proficient ski tourer with basic avalanche assessment skills. For wider coverage of backcountry ski touring and avalanche assessment skills we recommend doing our Backcountry Ski Course or Backcountry Avalanche Course first. For specific technical mountaineering instruction we offer a full range of courses from introductory to advanced levels.