August 2020 This route is on private land (Glenmore Station) and so access must be negotiated prior to visiting. The Falcon’s Nest hut is in Tin Hut Stream, and can be booked for ski touring parties. There are bunks for 8 people. It has a fireplace, gas cookers, clean mattresses, cooking utensils and even a…
Category: Canterbury
Canterbury Region
Mt Hutt backcountry accessed from ski field, Mt Hutt Range
It takes about 1.5 hours out to the North Peak of Mt Hutt from the ski field. This clip is of the East basin below the North Peak. The SW basin can also hold good snow at times. For information on backcountry access from Mt Hutt ski field check out: https://www.mthutt.co.nz/ski-touring/
Awakino ski field access to St Marys Range
by Zucco – St. Marys range ski touring – Awakino ski area, “the pearl of the Waitaki”, is located in North Otago and provides easy access to the St. Marys range via Kurow and a well maintained 4wd access road to the base lodge at 1200m. The field is open mostly on weekends only so…
The Prelude and Ski Rhapsody, a multi-day ski traverse; Mt Cook NP & Two Thumb Range
THE PRELUDE: Starting from Bush Stream Bridge at Mesopotamia in the Rangitata Valley, to the eastern summit of the Brabazon Ridge. West along the Brabazon Ridge, sidling north of Mt Brabazon and south of Points 1785 and 1797, then following the ridge via Point 1852 along to Brabazon Saddle. A little care initially, descending to…
Ski area access guidelines
There are lots of great tours available on this site, which begin (or end) at a Ski area. A bit of courtesy and respect for the operations and hazards will go a long way to keeping relations with the areas positive, and the access as open as possible. This guideline was developed by the Federated…
Mt Murchison, Shaler Range, Canterbury
Karl Greasley and Liv Barron Mt Murchison. We chose to break up the walk-in up by walking into Carrington hut on the Friday night. It took us four hours to reach Carrington hut from Klondyke corner. However, we did stop to check out Anti Crow hut as it was the first time we had been…
Mt Bealey, Arthurs Pass.
Jason Watson and Colin Kinnison – Skied on the 24/08/2018 This trip is easily done in a day from Christchurch with an early start. We left Christchurch at 0500hrs and started from the Mt Bealey track end just after 0700hrs. The initial 2 hours climbs through the bush and is on a marked trail that…
Mt Rolleston – the Otira Slide via Rome Ridge, Arthurs Pass
Rome Ridge – Arthur’s Pass mega classic leading to Mt. Rolleston – no touring equipment is even required. The climb is described in the Arthur’s Pass climbing guidebook by Graeme Kates (https://climbnz.org.nz/nz/si/main-divide-of-the-southern-alps/mt-rolleston/low-pk). This write-up aims to serve as an add-on for people who want to ski tour it. An early start should take you to…
Kings Mistake Couloir, Hall Range, Tekapo
King’s Mistake Couloir on Mistake Peak – Manu Nadler On July 30th, after a couple of really cold days with a lot of snowfall, Jamie Paterson and I wanted to ski one of the long east facing couloirs on Mistake Peak at Lake Tekapo. From the opposite side of the lake at Roundhill Ski Area…
Mt Olympus to Cheeseman ski field, Craigieburn Range, Canterbury
Mt Olympus to Cheeseman ski field is a suitably popular backcountry ski route, and is close to Christchurch. There are many good touring options in easy to moderate terrain. We did this tour starting at Mt Olympus, (after a good night of partying at the Olympus lodge) and heading to Cheeseman, but it can also…