About Alpine Trekking with Alpinism & Ski

Alpinism and Ski offer trips that are ideal for keen trampers/hikers that have a solid walking back ground and are used to carrying a multi day adventure load.

We respect the alpine trekking areas on the South Island as challenging wilderness areas and we treat alpine trekking trips similarly to our mountaineering adventures, with safety, quality and experience.

Basic alpine skills will be learned but the main emphasis is for you to experience the alpine world with fun and enjoyment, accompanied by your guide.

Your options of alpine trekking with Alpinism & Ski

Aspiring adventure - helicopter into Bevan Col followed by a 3-4 hr glacier hike across the Bonar Glacier to Colin Todd alpine hut. Next day is glacier hiking with stunning views of Mt Aspiring and surrounding peaks and a descent down the Quarterdeck glacier to French Ridge hut, situated in the sub alpine zone. After a night there, descend to spend the night in the charming Mount Aspiring hut. After a leisurely breakfast, make your way out the Matukituki valley to our 4WD and back to Wanaka and the Alpinism & Ski base.

NZ Alpine Glaciers adventure - helicopter into an alpine hut situated amongst the grandeur of Mt Cook and Westland National parks. Traverse glaciers and experience the alpine world with stunning views of NZ's highest peaks. Depending on the weather, this trip will either go West to Franz Joseph and Fox glaciers or East to the head of the Mueller glacier.

Copeland Pass crossing - hike over the Main Divide of the Southern Alps. This alpine traverse starts at Mt Cook village. Hike up the Hooker valley and glacier before heading steeply up to the Copeland Shelter. After a night spent there, an early start is made for the alpine crossing of the pass. Crampons, ice axe and ropes will be used. The descent towards the West coast is down wide open snow bowls and a track to Douglas Rock hut. The hike down the Copeland valley out to the West Coast is amongst sub tropical rainforest. There are natural hot pools at Welcome Flat hut. Phil's photo album

If you have another particular alpine trekking trip in mind, email us about the trip and we can advise if we can guide you on such an adventure.

The above itineraries may be modified to work in with the NZ weather systems, participants skills, experience and fitness.

Pre-Requisites for guided alpine trekking

A reasonably high level of fitness and stamina is necessary. The alpine skills of cramponing and using an ice axe will be taught along the way if necessary, with your guide taking care of any technical rope stuff.

Details:

All trips are 6 days duration (this includes 1-2 weather contingency days). Days spent waiting for appropriate weather will be spent trekking around the many excellent tracks in Wanaka, Mt Cook Village or the West Coast, which ever is appropriate

Prices: as per private instruction

Ratio: Max 1:3 or 2:6

 

Summer season 2010-11
available for Alpine Trekking adventures are all of November until 17th Dec. and after 1st January.

e-mail us with any inquiry or booking information, we look forward to hear from you, cheers

Alpine Trekking Images

Click on thumbnail to bring up larger image and slide show

 

Guiding Qualifications

Our Alpine trekking guides are trained and assessed through the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association (NZMGA) which is overseen by the International Federation of Mountain Guides Association (IFMGA).