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/
Tag: 1 day tour
Kaimakamaka Peaks, Ben Ohau Range
I understand that Kaimakamaka means ‘knucklebones’ in Maori. If this is so, then the peak is aptly named, as it sits like a solid fist on the ridge; rocky knuckles festooned with steep parallel couloirs. When the springtime snow line is high, a quick flight up to the Kaiamakamaka peaks is worthwhile. This area gets…
Ohau’s northern bowls, Ohau Range
August 2018 Ohau ski field is well known for having good access to ski touring. Indeed, search this website and you will find the posts for Mt Peterson, Mt Stafford and Mt St Mary. These peaks are accessed from the ski field, from above the top lift, via the south ridge . Other more common…
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…
St Arnaud Range; Arnst basins & Paratitahi Tarns from Rainbow Ski Field
In July 2018 we were fortunate enough to catch the St Arnaud Range after a cold NW front, which whipped a mass of moisture laden, cold air from the deep south and coated the hills with a stable puff of fresh cold powder. We joined a throng of keen Nelson skiers in a convoy up…
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…
Jacks Stream and Stony Stream, Ben Ohau Range
Jacks Stream, and Stony Stream offer good interesting ski touring on a range of terrain and aspects. There are a lot of south facing slopes that can hold powder in good conditions well after a storm has departed. The basins at the heads of the streams are relatively low angle, with steep headwalls. There are…
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…