I really rate this ski tour. In fact, I would have to say its one of the best that I have ever done (!). I know, I know, that is a big call after 35 years of ski touring. But in its category, it is just superb.
We rocked up to Mt Cook village with a plan in mind. But the weather does not always cooperate. A brief southerly front had brought snow to the mountains, just not where we expected. A quick back-up plan was formulated, and we flew in to First Creek. This turned out
Crossing the Tasman river is quite an undertaking. The water is fast and full of silt. You cannot see the bottom to cross, and the rocks are sharp and glacial. We once holed a raft crossing here. It is possible to cross the valley on the Tasman Lake, and Glacier
Joel O’Rourke & Hans Anderson. On the weekend of the 22 and 23 September 2018, Hans Anderson and myself flew into Barron Saddle Hut in search of an adventure. Barron Saddle Hut and surrounds We flew in with Helicopter Line from Glentanner Station (flight cost $770). Hans excited for heli-rides
Saturday, 9th – Sunday, 10th September 2018 – Joel O’Rourke and Hans Anderson A fine weather window finally occurred that aligned with both Hans Anderson and my days off and so last minute plans were assembled to ski the Footstool near Mount Cook Village. We drove up the night before
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 Ben Ohau range was named in 1857. The lease was first
Aoraki/Mount Cook East Face Manu Nadler It was the 25th of October 2017. I was driving from Christchurch to Mount Cook Village on the Rakaia Highway through heavy rain and strong wind gusts. ‘The conditions would soon be perfect on Mount Cook for any steep skiing/snowboarding objectives’ was all I
By Ben Briggs One project completed (Caroline Face, Mt Cook) and its time to find the next. Cam, the warden of the Wyn Irwin hut where we were staying is a fountain of knowledge on the mountains in New Zealand and gave us so much beta we were spoiled for
The Caroline face first came to my attention in 2013, after skiing together in the Spring, Andeas Fransson invited me on a trip to New Zealand that Autumn. I didn’t know anything about the mountains there but was excited for a trip with Andreas, who by that time had already
By Joel O’Rourke. After a few days of bad weather and a trip up to Mt Olympus to show Kevin Canning the wonders of NZ Club Fields and nutcracker ropetows, a quick weather window allowed for a quick trip up to Mueller Hut to at least give Kevin a
You must be logged in to post a comment.