Explore New Zealand's largest glaciers
Trekking across the upper Tasman Glacier
Gear hire is included - no hidden costs
Maximum of 4 participants per guide
Sunset over Mt. D'Archiac from Kelman Hut
Perched high above the Tasman Glacier
Mount Cook Glaciers Trek
The ultimate glacier experience!
Experience the vast upper nevés of New Zealand's longest glacier, the Tasman Glacier. Combine glacier trekking and some introductory level mountaineering for a great alpine adventure. Surrounded by the Southern Alps, with many peaks over 3000m, this is a truly awesome place to be!
Overview
This 4-day trip has been developed for trekkers who have already done the Ball Pass Summit Trek and seek something of a similar level of difficulty. The trip begins with a flight up to Tasman Saddle Hut. Trekkers explore the upper reaches of the Tasman Glacier, visiting several high alpine passes, including an ascent to the Main Divide.
Our Ball Pass Summit Trek, Ball Pass Crossing or Introductory Mountaineering Course are recommended as ideal preparation for this trip.
Price details
1-4PER GUIDE
$
PER PERSON
| Participants | 4 days |
|---|---|
| Individual bookings | - |
| returning client discount (on individual bookings), if you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before. | |
| Group Booking Discounts (NZ$ per person) | |
| 3 People | - |
| 4 People | - |
Included:
- IFMGA/NZMGA certified mountain 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 mountaineering and trekking equipment
Meals and accommodation before/after the trip are NOT included.
Scheduled dates
NOV-APR
Mount Cook Glaciers Trek dates are scheduled on a case by case basis - please contact us with the dates you would like. We recommend that you settle guiding dates well in advance as guide availability during peak season is limited. Please allow extra time in case you are held up in the mountains due to weather.
We currently have spaces avialabe on a Mount Cook Glaciers trek 4-7/11/2019. Contact us for further detials.
Venue: Kelman & Tasman Saddle Huts
PUBLIC HUTS
↑ Tasman Saddle Hut
Hut bookings:
Kelman and Tasman Saddle Huts, the bases for this glacier trek are public huts that cannot be pre-booked. The huts work on a first-come first-served basis.
Equipment:
Participants must carry their own sleeping bags, personal gear and some of the group equipment, food, stove, fuel, and cooking utensils (all provided by us).
Itinerary
4DAYS
FLY IN/OUT
Day 1
8am gear check at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. Drive to Mount Cook (1 hour 15 mins). Fly from Mt Cook airport to Tasman Saddle, deposit gear and food at Tasman Saddle Hut. Refresh crampon, ice-axe and self-arrest skills and take a tour through the crevasses below the hut. 4 hours.
Day 2
Hike up to Lendenfeld Saddle, 2419m, on the Main Divide to look down the Whymper Glacier and Whataroa Valley. Return to Tasman Saddle Hut for a second night. 5 hours.
Day 3
Climb up to Hochstetter Aylmer Col to admire the view to the West Coast from the Main Divide. Descend to Tasman Saddle (2435m), to look down into the Murchison Valley. Hike across to Kelman Hut to spend the night. 5 hours.
Day 4
Hike down the Tasman Glacier to the white ice, exploring ice caves in the Darwin Icefall on the way. 6 hours.
Helicopter back to Mount Cook Village, and drive back to Lake Tekapo.
There is some flexibility with this programme to work around unfavourable weather or crevasse conditions. The glacier can become heavily crevassed from late January onwards, but this varies season by season. Please contact us to request your dates and check on current conditions.
Equipment
PROVIDED
All of your equipment will be checked during the gear check at our office at the start of your trip. Any equipment you need to borrow from us will be issued by your guide. Alpine Recreation provides packs, helmets, harnesses, crampons, ice-axes and any outdoor clothing, pyou may require at no extra cost. Please see the equipment list below for further details.