Snow & Ice Conditions

Fresh snow on the Ball Glacier, 23rd May 2010 (Photo: D. Newstead)

Ball Pass and Fitzgerald Pass

Ball Pass: Snow now falling regularly during recent storms from below Caroline Hut and upwards. No more scheduled trips now until November, but bookings for Ball Pass Crossings and Introductory Climbing Courses are open for the coming summer, starting November. See below for our winter actiivities.

Check guide availability for Ball Pass.

Fitzgerald Pass: Best conditions are in November through until end of January.

Guided party near the summit of Aoraki/Mount Cook

Ascents Aoraki / Mount Cook National Park

Bookings for Intermediate Climbing Courses and ascents are already coming in for next summer 2010-11. If you are fairly fixed with your dates then book early to avoid disappointment.

Read the article about guided ascents of Lendenfeld by a 68-year-old and of Sefton by a 75-year-old.

Sampling the fresh snow in the Two Thumb Range, 26th June 2010

Nordic & Alpine Ski Touring & Snowshoeing

Another 80cm fall of snow at Rex Simpson Hut on the 7-8 August! If you still want to take advantage of the fantastic snow this winter then you need to be fast, as the hut has heavy bookings.

If you want to see what the weather is doing in Tekapo at the moment check out the live web cam.

Check guide availability for ski touring and snowshoeing.

Ski run from Kelman Hut, Tasman Glacier

Alpine Ski Touring

Great weather, great snow has meant some very happy ski tourers returning from their time at the top of the Tasman Glacier.

Mount Cook Glaciers: Bookings accepted now until October.

Check guide availability for ski touring.

Gottlieb's Symphony on Skis 1985 record, 18.5 hours from Rankin Hut in the Godley Valley to Chancellor Hut, was broken by Grant Guise, Javi (Spain) and Lorenzo (Italy) in just under 13 hours on 5 September 2009. The modern party travelled with ultra-lite ski touring gear and just day packs, whereas the original party (with Franz Waibl and Daniel Frey) carried full packs with sleeping bags, cookers, food for Chancellor Hut etc.

Read the original newspaper article about the Symphony on Skis.

Backcountry Avalanche Advisory