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By alpinism, February 13, 2013 2:51 pm

Gaz expanding from mountain guiding to helicopter missions

As summer is racing along, mountain guide Gary Dickson is presently on a guided Pure Alpinism week with Mark from Christchurch. They managed to fly as planned up to Pioneer hut on Monday, aiming to climb peaks such as Lendenfeld and Haidinger.

The native and not so native plants continue to display their beauty with new flowers popping out somewhere every day, at the moment, the ground covering, creeping vegetable sheep, raoulia, coprosma and celmisia show off their minuscule splendor and edible berries are not far away.

At the Alpinism & Ski base in Wanaka, when no guided mountaineering or trekking trips are on, sustainability projects continue. The latest project, to insulate the last part of the walls, has just been completed with an awesome rock wall by top handyman Gaz:

Sustainability projects continue to happen

harmony and sustainability = related?

You wonder where the chief’s helicopters come in? watch this space but expansion of the business into flying is happening and the first pictures have been taken from the air for an estate which is for sale, interested? check this out:

Mt Aspiring in the back – mountain guiding and flying are related too

should you be keen on a top quality home in Wanaka just click through to this link . But, back to Alpinism adventures: inquiries and bookings are welcome anytime, for guided trekking excursions, mountaineering courses and guided ascents in New Zealand and soon again in the Swiss, French and Italian Alps.

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By alpinism, December 28, 2012 11:45 am

Wanaka, base for Alpinism Adventures

Christmas day, once again Gary Dickson the chief guide aka Gaz got called out on a SAR mission. Iris prepared for a guided trekking excursion to Mueller hut in Mt Cook National Park and enjoyed an otherwise perfect day in beautiful Wanaka. A couple of years ago the Search and Rescue team in Wanaka was being filmed and presently on TV NZ the eight episodes are being shown. If you are interested, here the links:

• episode 8
• episode 7
• episode 6
• episode 5
• episode 4
• episode 3
• episode 2
• episode 1

Alpinism adventures are on our program this summer, from guided trekking, to mountaineering courses and ascents, the Southern Alps offer fantastic opportunities and Wanaka is the most fantastic base to start from.

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By alpinism, October 31, 2012 3:05 pm

Spring in Wanaka and it is beautiful watching the various native flowers emerge, from Patotara to Kowhai, now the delicate looking New Zealand Iris and dark red delicious Pittostorum are appearing. Ski touring season has come and gone, guided trekking to Rob Roy glacier cirque started and our mountaineering season is shaping up.

For any interested mountaineers, we have a Technical Mountaineering Course from 6-12th Jan. 2013 with 3 spots left. An alpine climbing instruction course with top New Zealand instructor Gary Dickson in person.

Black Swan family, Matukituki valley Wanaka

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By alpinism, October 3, 2012 11:49 am

September on Fox glacier

Guestbook entries late winter and spring 2012. Ski touring visitors from Australia who spent time on the Fox glacier-Pioneer hut. They were keen to improve their skills for further alpinism and ski activities and mountain adventures around the globe. It was a great pleasure!

“Thank you for a really wonderful trip. Gary, your experience in mountain guiding showed us a lot of wonderful scenes of NZ and taught us a lot of mountaineering skills. We must also thank you for your hospitality in hosting us at your wonderful house. Peter Huang”

“We had a wonderful time during the week that we spent with you. Being our first trip (in ski touring) we learnt a lot of new skills, all of which we will put to good use back in Australia and beyond. Hopefully we will meet again soon after we have spent more time on the slopes learning how to ski! Iris thank you for your hospitality and especially the lamb roast (the) last night.Your friendliness and warmth really makes up for Gary’s sarcasm which we had to endure during the time that we were away! John Cheng” and from Hideko: “we hope to come back one day (soon!) as better skiers”

We think they might have the bug for ski touring and will be back for more, some pictures here

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By alpinism, August 16, 2012 9:20 pm

The Southern Alps are a fabulous play ground and Wanaka is a great base to start from, be it ski touring, ascents or technical mountaineering instruction courses, not to forget the amazing trekking excursions. For all of these alpinism adventures, it is a good thing to be well prepared, either on your own or with a mountain guide.

The New Zealand Department of Conservation has stopped the intention system this year and sent us following which we want to pass on to all alpinism adventurers: they (DoC) are

encouraging people to use  the New Zealand Outdoors Intentions process on the AdventureSmart website; www.adventuresmart.org.nz  which is endorsed by New Zealand’s search and rescue agencies and provides three simple options to tell someone they trust the details about their trip. The main message is: before you go outdoors, tell someone your plans.

Many mountaineers, climbers, trampers and ski touring or other Alpinism addicts are keen to have an emergency plan in place and here some suggestions for getting insurance cover for these alpinism activities:

• The New Zealand Alpine Club insurance always very helpful, the Alpinism & Ski team use it for Europe
• Australian insurance possibility, being used by our latest guest in Switzerland
• European options to be covered for alpinism: REGA in Switzerland, we strongly support this rescue system, Austrian Alpine Club has been and is used by some of our alpinism guests
• Another global option
  

If you know of another worthy insurance option to be covered for our favorite activities, get in touch so that we can spread the word.

For now, stay safe and keep having fun!

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By alpinism, August 16, 2012 8:42 pm

Ibex sculpture in front of Cabane d'Orny

Mid August here in Switzerland for us and Gary is on a two week mountaineering instruction course with visitor Sonia from Australia. They started with climbing near the Orny hut, a fantastic base for learning alpine tricks and skills. The area provides excellent alpine terrain with outstanding views, be it for rock climbing or glacier travel. While Sonia is getting top quality technical mountaineering instruction with Gaz, Iris continues to roam the splendid Lapiaz (lime stone formations) above Leysin and enjoying rock climbing missions. The alpine flora is still providing plenty of beautiful colours and summer weather has been fantastic for the last few weeks.

Rock climbing near Orny hut

Alpinism adventures in Switzerland

The lake next to Orny hut and courageous alpinists

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By alpinism, July 23, 2012 7:29 pm

Getting ready to head out ski touring

The moment has come to put on the skins

The fun run down after the uphill adventure

The present visit in Europe has allowed the team to realize a personal ski touring adventure, back in May. This alpinism activity is on for the next few months in New Zealand again and for those of you interested to get a taster, we do have a scheduled trip. Continue reading 'Ski Touring – a dream alpinism adventure'»

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By alpinism, July 20, 2012 3:52 am

Coming back from rock climbing last Thursday, we were shocked to learn that one of the Mont Blanc avalanche victims was a local mountain guide colleague from Leysin. Roger Payne, highly respected in the international mountain guiding industry – we are deeply saddened about this loss.

Here he is in Tignes/Val d’Isère during the meeting in May – Roger, you’ll be missed!

Roger and Gary at the meeting

Roger socializing with other guides

Mountain Guides qualification

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By alpinism, July 10, 2012 12:38 am

Ibex in the Swiss Alps

End of June in the European Alps saw Andrew from Wanaka, with Gaz, our chief mountain guide, head off to higher altitudes. Firstly, they traversed the Weissmies, a 4023 m peak in Switzerland with just all right conditions. For their second goal, the Nadelhorn, the weather improved and blue skies were part of this alpine climbing adventure. This peak of 4327 m can be reached from the Mischabelhut and a reasonably good fitness level is required. Strong high winds and more rain approaching brought the team back to Leysin, to  finish the week with the local via ferrata of Les Plans, a short but quite demanding adventure in itself. Continue reading 'Alpinism Adventures in Europe'»

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By alpinism, June 20, 2012 4:04 am

Bernese Oberland ski touring fun in May 2012

As Winter is starting back home in Wanaka, we are just about having the longest day in the Northern Hemisphere. Expecting our first Kiwi guest Andrew for another Euro summer alpinism adventure but already planning the ski touring and back country snowboard fun late winter and spring downunder. Alpinism & Ski will pick up activities in NZ again with a private ski touring trip: a keen team of three Ozie blokes will head off on 10th Sept.

For individuals keen to share cost and fun: we’ve fixed the dates for our

one and only 2012 scheduled  6 day ski touring adventure:

from Sunday 14th – Friday 19th October 2012

max 4 participants, $ 2430 pp (special conditions apply)

Our next newsletter and program update by email is not too far away, if you haven’t received one yet and would like to subscribe, send an email please