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By alpinism, January 10, 2013 2:34 pm

Panorama on a guided climb of Mt Cook

From the December ascents trip we have received some photos: Peter’s guided climb of New Zealand’s highest mountain with Gary Dickson in person. We are allowed to share them here:

A beautiful day for the climb of NZ's highest

two climbers in the distance

Fabulous views of the Southern Alps

Mid December is an excellent time for a trip up to Mt Cook – Aoraki, as the Linda Glacier Route is often still in good condition. A weather front potentially holding them back for a day, disappeared faster then expected and on the 11th Peter and Gary were the only climbers on that day to climb Mt Cook up the Linda, a very special feeling and an extra treat according to our guest.

Gary Dickson, chief of Alpinism & Ski

still climbing up towards the top, 3754 m

The summit is near

Thanks Peter, both for coming and for the photos, best wishes for many good adventures in 2013!

The Must-have-Shot

mountain guide Gary Dickson

Plateau hut, an awe inspiring location

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By alpinism, January 16, 2012 2:54 pm

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.

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By alpinism, January 9, 2012 9:06 pm

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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By alpinism, July 21, 2011 2:38 am

Second half of July here in  Europe – the  Alps with fresh snow all around. Rain galore for mother nature and good for the glaciers and mountaineering later on in the season,  but definitely making it tricky right now for us to go climbing rock  up high. We have  managed a bit of climbing between the showers on the lower rock climbing crags  and Gary prepared this photo album of the specialized climbing instruction a few weeks ago, enjoy.

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By alpinism, July 15, 2011 9:53 pm

Mid July and after two weeks of mountain guiding for ISM, Gary is ready for some top quality rock climbing with Iris. Climbing in europe, we are spoilt as we can choose to go climbing  on lime stone, gneiss, granite and/or marble.  The European Alps provide us with all sorts of fun from gazing at pretty flowers on trekking trips, watching chamoix and ibex to alpine climbing.

The New Zealand late winter program has been on our minds too and ski touring is definitely on. We have a team booked for ski touring end of October and have decided to offer two scheduled  6 day ski touring trips for individuals keen to share experience and cost: Tour I from 25.9.- 30.9. and Tour II from 10.-15.10.2011. There is also a 3 day avalanche course available for those keen to learn/improve their back country skills.

Views from Tour de Famelon, Leysin: Eiger,Mönch,Jungfrau