Safety is important out there. Here is a site about being SMART on adventures which is advertised by the Department of Conservation. My thought: if you go out there and stay in mountain huts for your alpinism missions, be it alpine climbing, hiking or bird watching, you might as well give the local DoC office your intentions. At least that way there is an indication of how many people stay in the huts … a long subject, so be smart and stay safe.
Diamond lake Rocky Mountain 775 m altitude, views over lake Wanaka on a guided walk, 3-4 hrs return
learning to place ice screws on a climbing course
End of the month, two fit fellas will be arriving from Aussie to go on an intermediate-advanced climbing course with mountain guide Gaz. The NZ weather looks to have settled into a more settled state of play and alpine conditions look excellent for the 10 day specialized mountain training.
If you are looking for a climbing course we have two sceduled courses comming up:
- Intro to alpinism - 6 days 20th-25th February
- Total Alpinism – 7 days 04th-10th March
If you are an individual or a group looking to have a week of private mountaineering instruction, just get in touch and we can see if we can fit around your schedule.
Here some memorabilia of Alpinism during the last decade: youtube legendary Doug Ball who spent considerable time climbing with mountain guide Gary Dickson aka Gaz from January 2006 until August 2009.
Doug Ball, 79, on Mt Aspiring, New Zealand
Doug at 80, climbing a few peaks over 4000m in a week in Switzerland
Doug climbing high above the Dossenhütte, Kingspitze in the back ground
Doug had climbed Mt Cook Aoraki with his wife Peggy and many other peaks, but never Mt Aspiring. He got thwarted twice while climbing with Gaz because of conditions and weather but third time lucky and for a brief time he was considered the oldest climber to have sumited. He must have been an inspiration … more
Based at Centennial hut for some more alpine climbing
He sent us these lines just recently …”I use a slide show of my mountaineering photos as a screen saver so that my memories are not lost but are refreshed every day. Alpinism and Ski certainly made an enormous difference to my life. What would have become of me if I had just thrown in the sponge after Peggy died? I have so much to thank you both for and am not likely to ever forget it.”
keep going strong Doug
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Alpinism & Ski, Alpinism adventure, Alpinism in Europe, Alpinism in New Zealand, Alpinism Wanaka New Zealand, climbing, climbing in Switzerland, climbing Mt Aspiring, Europe, Mount Aspiring ascent, mountain guiding NZ, mountaineering, New Zealand Mountain Guides, NZ, Switzerland, Wanaka New Zealand
Typical NZ Spring storms are coming through and just last week we had fresh snow all around the mountains near Wanaka. October ended with our ski touring team coming out of Tasman Saddle hut, a successful Copeland pass alpine trekking traverse and a Mount Cook climb that could not eventuate because of the full on weather and avalanche dangers. IFMGA mountain guide Sean Brooks with mountaineer Rob had an interesting time at Plateau hut with the wind keeping them awake during the nights spent up there. Chief mountain guide Gary Dickson sat out the storm with VIP team Phil, Bill, John and Geoff and they managed a good number of excellent ski turns in the surrounding areas for the next couple of days, finishing with a splendid ski down the Tasman Glacier. However, they witnessed lots of avalanche activity too. NZMGA mountain guide Pete James with Darrin were also in the area, waiting in Mt Cook village for the weather to clear enough. After they saw the Chamoix bar windows blown out and the storm finally calming down, they were able to cross the Main Divide and here some photos (all by Pete James) telling more:
Climbing up towards Copeland Shelter
The shelter and Copeland pass behind it
Darrin on the Copeland Pass, Mt Cook Nat. Park
The highest mountain in Mount Aspiring National Park is very popular as an alternative to Mt Cook when the Linda Glacier route is dodgy and during the first week of January, Anthony enjoyed this climb with mountain guide Gaz.
Mountain guiding up the NW ridge of Mt Aspiring
coming down the NW ridge of Mt Aspiring after a successful ascent
Colin Todd hut, most often the start to climbing Mt Aspiring
First seven days of the New Year: a lot of water everywhere. Somehow we managed the most awesome adventure activities on the few sunny days. Gary went from sailing to an ascents climb of Mt Aspiring, with Anthony visiting from Hongkong. The two of them stood on Mt Tasman five years ago and a potential next alpinism mission was mentioned.
Excellent 1st January sailing, into the mountains next
Wanaka New Zealand, base for Alpinism adventures
Mt Aspiring - Tititea, 3033 m
During the last few weeks, the Alpinism & Ski base has been further improved with lounge and kitchen walls and ceiling now fully insulated, new kitchen installation and fabulous lights. It is time to head into the mountains again and Gaz with Craig are waiting for the weather to clear to fly in and attempt a Mt Cook climb. Then Mt Aspiring with another Kiwi mountaineer but more about these alpinism trips soon.
Fixed dates for scheduled mountaineering courses, to learn or improve your alpine climbing skills:
- Intro to Alpinism, a 6 day beginners alpine climbing course, price $ 2310 pp, from 11th – 16th Dec. 2010 and again from 24th – 29th January 2011
- Total Alpinism, 7 days intermediate-advanced mountaintaineering course, price $ 2695 pp, from 6th – 12th and from 21st – 27th February 2011
Get in touch for details here
Labour weekend and the town is buzzing with visitors. The Alpinism & Ski team are off on a different adventure, while the Wanaka winter fest is happening, art exhibitions and plenty of activities such as rock climbing, mountain biking and cruising around on the lake, though the water is still a tad chilly. November will be here soon and with it the summer mountaineering trips. Get in touch if you are keen on an ascents adventure such as Mt Aspiring or learn the tricks to stay safe in the mountains by signing on for one of our mountaineering instruction courses.
Iris and Gary are back in Wanaka 30 Oct. and guided trekking excursions plus mountaineering trips will be happening, get in touch to organise your dream adventure this summer.
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