Cass Valley
Snowshoe Hikes
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Cass Valley Snowshoeing
Backcountry snowshoe hikes near Lake Tekapo
Lady Emily Hut
Lady Emily Hut sits at an altitude of 1500m in the Gamack Range, overlooking the upper Cass Valley. Located in a beautiful setting, with great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, providing a fantastic location for star gazing - the Mackenzie District is renowned for the clarity of its sky and freedom from light pollution, which is why the area was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Warm, cosy & modern
Lady Emily Hut is privately owned and was built by Glenmore Station. It is an ideal base for backcountry adventures, overnight alpine hikes, hut to hut treks and ski & split-board touring. Equipped with firewood, gas, bunks, pillows and mattresses. A wood-fired stove means there are good heating and drying facilities. Alpine Recreation has stocked the hut with sleeping bags for each bunk. This will keep the pack volume and weight down for walk-in / ski-in trips.
Facilities
Lady Emily consists of two rooms, one room sleeping up to 4 and a second sleeping 6. There are no showers and the toilet is a traditional longdrop loo.
Access
Provided the 4WD access to Memorial Hut is possible, this is the easiest of the Glenmore Station huts to walk to, but furthest to 4WD drive to and will be the first to be cut-off by high river levels, snow or flooding. The inital 200m climb is steep, but then eases once you reach the alpine meadows at around 1300m. Expanding views over the upper Cass Valley and Ailsa Stream provide a welcome excuse to take a break and soak in your surroundings. The access to "Bad Decision" (Whiskey Hut) is probably the easiest as well with approx. 3.5 km distance and 600m of climbing.
O'Leary's Hut
O'Leary's Hut sits at 1700m, overlooking Waterfall Stream. Located in a beautiful setting, with great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, providing a fantastic location for star gazing - the Mackenzie District is renowned for the clarity of its sky and freedom from light pollution, which is why the area was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Warm, cosy & modern
O'Leary's Hut is privately owned and was built by Glenmore Station. It is an ideal base for backcountry adventures, overnight alpine hikes, hut to hut treks and ski & split-board touring. Equipped with firewood, gas, bunks, pillows and mattresses. A wood-fired stove means there are good heating and drying facilities. Alpine Recreation has stocked the hut with sleeping bags for each bunk. This will keep the pack volume and weight down for walk-in / ski-in trips.
Facilities
O'Leary's Hut consists of 1 large room with 8 bunks and a log burner. There are no showers and the toilet is a traditional longdrop loo.
Hot tub
O'Leary's Hut has a hot tub! Installed in autumn 2024, the wood-fired tub is fed by an alpine spring and is the perfect spot to relax after your day's adventures. What better place to enjoy star-gazing?!
Access
4WD access to Waterfall Hut is the most reliable and almost always possible, or only requires a short walk from the vehicle. It is then a very steep 300m hike up into the broader Waterfall Valley. From here the easiest route is to continue up the mostly gentle valley along the stream to O'Leary's Hut at 1700m.
Falcon's Nest Hut
Falcon's Nest sits at an altitude of 1500m in the Gamack Range, tucked into the fork of Upper Tin Hut Stream. Located in a beautiful setting, with great views of the surrounding mountains and valleys, providing a fantastic location for star gazing - the Mackenzie District is renowned for the clarity of its sky and freedom from light pollution, which is why the area was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Warm, cosy & modern
Falcon's Nest Hut is privately owned and was built by Glenmore Station. It is an ideal base for backcountry adventures, overnight alpine hikes, hut to hut treks and ski & split-board touring. Equipped with firewood, gas, bunks, pillows and mattresses. A wood-fired stove means there are good heating and drying facilities. Alpine Recreation has stocked the hut with sleeping bags for each bunk. This will keep the pack volume and weight down for walk-in / ski-in trips.
Facilities
Falcon's Nest Hut consists of 1 large room with 8 bunks and a log burner. There are no showers and the toilet is a traditional longdrop loo.
Access
4WD access to Tin Hut is possible in most conditions. Walking access is then up the Tin Hut Stream valley. An initially steep 100m climb eases to follow Tin Hut Stream to its upper fork, where Falcon's Nest Hut sits nestled in pristine alpine meadows. Access to "Bad Decision" (Whiskey Hut) is via the northern branch of Upper Tin Hut Stream (approx. 700m climbing over 3.5km distance).
Cass Valley Snowshoeing 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.
Standard bookings
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for $100 off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Standard Price | 3 days price per person | 4 days price per person | 5 days price per person | 6 days price per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual bookings group size | NZ$2015 2 - 4 per guide * | NZ$2855 2 - 4 per guide * | NZ$3300 2 - 4 per guide * | NZ$3799 2 - 4 per guide * |
Please read the information on minimum and maximum group sizes below.
Group discounts: get a group of family and friends together and book as a group. The amount of discount you will be eligible for, will depend on the group size - the more people you book, the more your discount will be. If our scheduled dates don't suit your group's travel plans, please contact us so we can reschedule a trip to suit (subject to guide availability).
Please note that group bookings are not private bookings - if you wish to keep your group closed and have a private guide just for your group, a surcharge will apply.
| Group Discounts | 3 days price per person | 4 days price per person | 5 days price per person | 6 days price per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group booking of 3 | NZ$1,915.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$2,715.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$3,135.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$3,610.00 2 - 4 per guide |
| Group booking of 4 | NZ$1,815.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$2,570.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$2,970.00 2 - 4 per guide | NZ$3,420.00 2 - 4 per guide |
Deposit Payment
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- NZ$500.00
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 60 days of the trip start, the full amount will be due.
Booking conditionsFlights
Flights are not included in the price, as costs vary according to the venue, type of aircraft and occupancy. Depending on the venue, it is often possible to be picked up from a lower landing site on the return flight or to combine flights with other groups heading in to and out of the mountains to significantly reduce flight costs.
Weather dependent: As there is no guarantee of being able to fly (due to weather) and no obligation to fly, we like to be able to pass on any potential savings directly to our guests.
| Price per flight (the cost is split equally amongst guests) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Flight | Aircraft | Spaces | Price |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Bad Decision Hut | MD 500 Helicopter | 3 | NZ$1,210.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Bad Decision Hut | Squirrel Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,550.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Falcon's Nest Hut | MD 500 Helicopter | 3 | NZ$1,090.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Falcon's Nest Hut | Squirrel Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,395.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Lady Emily Hut | MD 500 Helicopter | 3 | NZ$1,210.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from Lady Emily Hut | Squirrel Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,550.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from O'Leary's Hut | MD 500 Helicopter | 3 | NZ$845.00 |
| Tekapo MHL Hanger to / from O'Leary's Hut | Squirrel Helicopter | 5 | NZ$1,060.00 |
Please note: Flight prices are given as examples only and are subject to change by aircraft operators at any time. In addition to guests, each aircraft will also transport the guide and gear.
Minimum & Maximum Group Size
A minimum number of 2 participants is required to run this trip. If you end up being the only person booked on the trip, you will be offered the choice of:
- paying an additional fee to run the trip at a reduced guide-to-guest ratio
( NZ$1,310.00 for 3 days, NZ$1,795.00 for 4 days, NZ$2,080.00 for 5 days, NZ$2,555.00 for 6 days ) - rescheduling to another trip/date
- a full refund
A maximum number of 4 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
Previous Experience
Previous multi-day tramping / hiking over rough untracked terrain is required. Previous snowshoeing experience is recommended.
For an easier option, we recommend starting with our Snowshoe Heli-Hikes or Lake Tekapo Snowshoeing.
Difficulty Ratings
Endurance: 2.5 - Slightly challenging +
A good level of aerobic fitness is expected. Suitable for people who regularly undertake multi-day hiking/trekking/tramping trips. Must be comfortable carrying a light-moderate backpack (5-8 kg) for 4-6 hours. Expect ascents of 500-800 vertical metres.
Agility: 3 - Moderate scrambling agility
Scrambling over rough ground with hand placement needed (eg. pulling yourself up on vegetation, clambering over boulders). Good foot placement required across a variety of terrain, including steep grass, alpine scrub, scree, boulder-fields and snow. Must be competent and efficient at moving over uneven and untracked terrain carrying a moderate backpack. Sections of steep and/or exposed terrain at times. May involve crossing snow slopes and/or glaciers, requiring the use of crampons and ice axe if conditions are firm.
Technical Mountaineering: 1 - Beginner mountaineer
No prior rope skills or experience with crampons/ice axe required. Basic 10-point crampon, ice axe, self-arresting and glacier travel skills introduced by guide if applicable.
Trip Difficulty Ratings - more info| Gear Check | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 pm | 8:00 am | 5:00 pm |
Cass Valley Snowshoeing - Clothing & Equipment Checklist
Your gear check time will be provided at time of booking. Please bring as many of the items on the equipment list as you can. We can provide (at no extra charge), any of the items in list A that you are missing. Your pack with your own gear should not weigh more than 7kg. Remember that you will be adding snowshoes, crampons, ice-axe, helmet and some fresh food (bread, meat, cheese, veges) to this weight, to end up with about 10-12kg to carry on the first day. Reminder: all food is provided.
Snowshoes, trekking poles, avalanche safety equipment, crampons, ice axe, helmet, etc. are all provided. Sleeping bags, mattresses, pillows and hut shoes are at the hut. We provide you with a sleeping bag liner and pillow case (if you have your own sleeping bag liner, please bring it).
*1 Boots: must be well broken-in and waterproofed, and stiff enough for crampons. To test boot stiffness, hold them at toe and heel and try bending the sole like a banana. If you can do this, your boots are too soft. Please note that we stock boots ranging from EU size 37-48; if you have feet outside this range and do not have suitable boots of your own, you will need to hire boots independently from: Gnomes Alpine Sports, Darfield; Small Planet Sports, Queenstown; or MT Outdoors, Wanaka. Book any hire equipment well in advance.
*2 Blister kit: we recommend Compeed and Leukoplast - available at chemists in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka.
A. Equipment which Alpine Recreation can provide if you do not have your own:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| avalanche safety equipment transceiver, shovel, probe | 1 |
| backpack - 45L must have side tension straps | 1 |
| buff / sun scarf for protecting ears & neck | 1 |
| gaiters to fit over trekking / mountaineering boots | 1 |
| headlamp with spare battery | 1 |
| mountaineering equipment helmet, ice axe, crampons, harness, carabiners, slings, prussics | 1 |
| polypro / merino thermal leggings | 2 |
| polypro / merino top long-sleeved | 2 |
| snowshoeing equipment snowshoes, poles | 1 |
| sun hat | 1 |
| synthetic / fleece jacket | 1 |
| trekking / hiking poles | 1 |
| trekking / mountaineering boots sturdy enough for crampons | 1 |
| warm gloves / mittens | 1 |
| waterproof hard-shell pants full-length zip | 1 |
| waterproof over-mitts | 1 |
| waterproof pack liner to keep your gear dry | 1 |
| waterproof parka must have a hood | 1 |
| wool hat / balaclava | 1 |
| woollen socks | 2 |
B. Equipment you must bring yourself/Alpine Recreation do not provide:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| camera | 1 |
| down jacket | (optional) 1 |
| drink bottle / thermos flask wide-mouth, minimum 1 litre | 1 |
| ear plugs in case of snorers | 1 |
| personal first aid please provide your own blister kit | 1 |
| personal underwear | 1 |
| quick-drying shirt long-sleeved, for sun protection | 1 |
| small dry bags for organising gear | 1 |
| snow goggles | 1 |
| sun and lip screen high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| sun glasses high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| toiletries please keep these to a minimum | 1 |
