Alpine ascents program, and guided mountaineering in New Zealand – Come and explore New Zealand Mountaineering and discover what a week of climbing has to offer.
A tailored Ascents program allows you to target your desired objectives and skill levels – combine instruction with guided mountaineering programs.
Our Alpine Ascent Programs give you the chance to define how long you want to be in the mountains. If you are not sure what you want to aim for we are happy to talk with you directly to help you refine your objective. From Mt Cook National Park, the West Coast Glaciers, Mt Aspiring National Park or down south to the impressive Darran Mountains – we have enough adventure to keep you satisfied.
ASCENTS – MOUNTAINEERING IN NEW ZEALAND
ENDURANCE
DIFFICULTY
DURATION
VARIABLE MIN 5 DAYS
RATIO
1:1 or 1:2
Route Dependant
EQUIPMENT
PRICE FROM
$2600 NZD
MOUNTAINEERING IN NEW ZEALAND
Alpine ascents program and guided mountaineering in New Zealand – Come and explore New Zealand Mountaineering and discover what a week of climbing has to offer.
A tailored Ascents program allows you to target your desired objectives and skill levels – combine instruction with guided mountaineering programs.
Our Alpine Ascent Programs give you the chance to define how long you want to be in the mountains. If you are not sure what you want to aim for we are happy to talk with you directly to help you refine your objective.
From Mt Cook National Park, the West Coast Glaciers, Mt Aspiring National Park or down south to the impressive Darran Mountains – we have enough adventure to keep you satisfied.
When to Climb in New Zealand
SEASON
Spring / Summer Climbing
By Mid October the high alpine climbing season is well underway.
From early December the routes we are looking at climbing are starting to change – access across bergshrunds becomes harder and the warming temepratures are stealing us of snow and ice.
By the mid to late January our routes are now starting to focus on rock routes with snow field access – anything with large bergshrunds is now typically cut off.
We can climb in the high alpine as late the end of April – however by this time there is virtually no snow and ice left and alone rock routes are now the objectives.
Typically you can expect the following :
Mid Oct – Mid ‘ Late November – High Alpine South Face routes.
October – Late December – Most alpine routes with access via bergshrunds are still climbable
Late December – Late April – Most alpine routes are now falling apart and careful route choices and timing need to be taken into consideration. There is plenty of light for climbing.
EXPERIENCE – Alpine Ascents
Know what you know
There are many objectives and peaks to explore during an Ascents Program. As a minimum you should have the following experience under your belt – this will help you enjoy your guided mountaineering experience even more.
Climbing General
10 days on rock within the past 2 years OR
Experience of several 12-15 hour days on alpine ascents (NZ Alpine 1+ to 2+)
ROCK
Comfortably second on rock – grade AU 10/12 (US 5.6) in mountaineering boots
SNOW
Basic level of crampon and axe skills for approaches and egress (at least to the standard of our Mountain Experience Course)
DESCENT
The ability to self-manage abseil descents
MOVEMENT
A reasonable level of aerobic fitness – able to carry an 8 kg backpack 1,000 vertical metres in 3 hours
PRICING OPTIONS – Duration and Number of People
Minimum Trip Length – 5 Days
Ratio 1:1
Days
5 $4,800 NZD
6 $5,700 NZD
7 $6,700 NZD
Ratio 1:2
Days
5 $2,600 NZD / Pers
6 $3,100 NZD / Pers
7 $3,600 NZD / Pers
Why only a max ratio of 1:2?
We are constained with the number of clients we can safely guided through alpine climbing terrain. For safety we are onlk able to guide a max ratio on 2 clients on fairly simple on technical terrain – an Ascent of 1:2 on the RAMP of Mt Aspiring is only just managable – 1:2 on the SW Ridge of Aspiring is not
Mt Cook National Park
There are countless opportunities and objectives for and Ascents week based from Mt Cook National Park.
West Coast Glaciers
We will stage from Fox Village on the West Coast and access either Centenial or Pioneer Hut. Multiple opportunities exits for good climbing on the peaks fo the main divide.
Not Sure?
Arthurs Pass, Mt Aspiring, Darran Mountains
Not sure where you want to climb or stuck for an objective – but you KNOW you want to go climbing? Just have a chat to us and we’ll point you towards objectives that are achievable. Come climbing in New Zealand this season!
FLY IN
We use Aspiring Helicopters to access BEVAN COL – situated at the head of the West Matukituki Valley. From here it is a 2 hour journey down across the Bonar Glacier before climbing up to Colin Todd HUT. Heli access allows us to maximise weather windows and the value of your climb / Time.
Flight costs into Bevan Col
2 people – $1050 for route
3 + People – -$350 / person
Walk in options are also available – this would add an extra days onto you trip. Please dont hesitate to ask for more info if you need it
FLY OUT
Backflights may be available from Bevan Col.
A backflight only works IF there is another party coming in.
Typical backflight cost is $150 / person
Walk out
The walkout takes us either :
Back over to Bevan COl and down into the valley – this is a technical descent. THe walk out to either the road end or Aspiring Hut can take 12 – 10 hours.
Up and over the Quater Deck besides MT French. We can descend to French Ridge Hut and stay the night before walking out the rest of the way to the car park at Rasberry Flat.
WANAKA
The trip starts and finishes in the township of Wanaka.
We meet at 8 am of DAY 1 of your trip. Depending on weather and our objective you may meet the evening before the trip starts at your guides discretion.
How to get here :
From Queenstown Airport
Shuttle from Queenstown Airport to Wanaka. Check what time your flight arrives before hand to make sure you are in time for shuttles – SHUTTLE WEBSITE LINK
You also have the option to RENT A CAR – see the available options in the airport if this is what you wish to do.
From Christchurch
YOu can either take a domestic flight to Queenstown Airport or :
BOOK A BUS
RENT A CAR
BEST OPTION – FLY INTO QUEENSTOWN AIRPORT
Weather and Alternative Options
The weather in New Zealand can be described as predictable in it unpredicability. As we sit within the Roaring 40s Trade winds our mountain ranges often get lashed by frequent storms.
We add in immediate flexibility with 1 weather contingency day at the start of the trip. We can discuss adding extra days if needed.
Some climbing objectives can be out of condition due to storms / snowpack / crevassing / access. Your guide may present a different mountain objective to you. Alternatively YOU can suggest a different route you may wish to explore. Discuss your ideas with your guide and youhave a rewarding trip.
BOOKING CONDITIONS
5 days is covered in the cost even though the climb may be completed in only 4 days.
You have the option of keeping your guide on and completing another climb if time and weather permit. This will be at the discretion of the guide, based on your ability and weather.
No refund is due if you choose to finish early.
Climbing Extensions to the 5 days may be possible (depending on your guide’s work commitments) – an additional cost of NZ$750 per day,
If the period is involuntarily extended by inclement weather that the guide advised against, the cost is an additional NZ$400 per day.
Booking an Trip
Please contact us by email or directly on +6421142776
malroc@gmail.com
INCLUSIONS
ASCENTS PROGRAM / Guided Mountaineering
Guide/Participant Ratio: 1:1 or 1:2
Season: Mid October – April
Duration : Variable
Price from $2,600 NZD /person
Based on 5 Day program 1:2 ratio
Includes:
Guide and National Park fees
1 Weather Contingency Day.
All meals and snacks from lunch day one, to lunch day 5
Backpacker in Wanaka if needed
Hut fees
NOT Included:
Cost of Flight in – we will pay the heli operator directly
Cost of flight out – if required
We do not charge for the cost of flights in and out as we can not plan for cheaper flights if sharing backflight – this ends up as a saving to you
HAZARDS
Mountaineering in New Zealand – the Risks
There are many risks associated with mountaineering – not all are apparent. There are the obvious issues with ;
AVALANCHES, CREVASSES, ROCKFALL and WIND – there are however less obvious risks which arise from;
Use of huts, sunburn, windburn, sliding on snow and walking with crampons.
Your guide is fully trained to the standard of the IFMGA – this means you will be informed at all times of the risks and how we mitigate them.
Your guide will discuss with you the conditions, weather and your own suitability for the chosen objective and make all the final safety calls. If at any stage you feel unsafe or uncertain you have the right and ability to stop any activity – talk with your guide – they are there to help you.
