Ski The Glaciers
Difficulty
Duration
4 - 7 days
Season
July to October
Gearlist
PRICE FROM $2,725 NZD
This is Alpine Guides' package for alpine ski tourers/split-boarders who want to venture onto the glacial névés of the Aoraki/Mount Cook and Westland regions. Take advantage of our guides’ extensive local knowledge, while experiencing the biggest glaciated mountains of New Zealand's Southern Alps.
Our Ski The Glaciers package is perfect for small groups who want to extend their experience into the high mountains, touring and ski mountaineering.
These regions have endless options for touring. The trip format can easily be tailored to suit intermediate through to expert skiers and snowboarders.
We offer Private Tours for individuals or small groups. The scheduled tours are best for people newer to backcountry skiing but are not suitable for beginners to ski touring.
Touring Options
How the Tours Work
We base our tours out of one of the area’s network of alpine huts. Your team will fly in, set up base, then head out each day to explore new terrain or tour to another hut. Our experienced IFMGA/NZMGA guides’ intimate knowledge of these locations is unsurpassed.
Based in Aoraki Mount Cook, Alpine Guides’ logistical support is unbeatable. As well as access to some amazing big-mountain lines, our guides will help you to develop your technique, taking you to a new personal level of backcountry skiing, avalanche safety, route-finding, and general mountain awareness.
“Private” Ski The Glaciers Option
Bring a team of friends to set up a private tour. The dates can be tailored to suit your plans, from July through October.
Talk to us if you have somewhere specific in mind or let your guide propose some missions based on the best combination of weather and conditions at the time of your trip. Possibilities include the Tasman Glacier, West Coast glacier névés or the Grand Plateau.
Potential Tour Options
Numerous lines in the Tasman and Murchison Glaciers.
The Mannering Glacier from Starvation Saddle.
The Aida glacier, with potential lines off Mount Sydney King and Classen Saddle.
Numerous tours in the Darwin and Bonney Glaciers.
Ski from Hochsetter Dome.
Advanced Options
For advanced skiers and riders looking for big-mountain skiing objectives and ski mountaineering, there are numerous peaks, big faces, and couloirs, throughout the upper Tasman and Murchison area of Mt Cook National Park.
Some of the trips can include:
Murchison Headwall descent to Murchison Hut (decommissioned hut, but a great ski-camp zone)
Mt Hamilton, Bonney Glacier, and Turnbull Glaciers (700 m + lines)
Starvation Saddle and Mannering Glacier
Mount Cooper (800 m + lines)
Elie De Beaumont at 3,109 metres (1,000 m +)
Guide to participant ratios may be reduced to 1:2 depending on your objectives.
The West Coast ski lines are also numerous, including all the passes like West Hoe Pass and Halcombe. There are also bigger mountain descents for experienced groups, with lines off the Minarets, De la Beche, Le Receveur, Mt Drummond, Chancellor Dome, and more...
Early season we tend to favour venues east of the Main Divide, to catch the cold powder, and later in spring (late-August onwards) the corn snow works well on the West Coast.
Guide to Participant Ratios
Ski The Glaciers program normally runs at a maximum of up to 1:4 guide/participant ratio. The objectives for your trip will dictate the ratio required - appropriate to the terrain and the technical standard.
For an experienced team with specific (or more challenging) objectives, the ratio can be lowered to 1:2 or 1:3.
ScheduleD Tours - Winter 2024
Price NZ$3,550 per person
All 2024 tours are now full or closed off for further bookings.
Scheduled Ski The Glaciers tours are 5 days long.
| Trip | Dates |
|---|---|
| STG 1 | 29 July - 02 Aug |
| STG 2 | 19 - 23 Aug |
| STG 3 | 09 - 13 Sept |
All tours start at 08:30 AM on day one and finish at 5:00 PM on the final day.
Check-in at Alpine Guides office in Mount Cook Village.
Please read our booking Terms and Conditions.
Maximum and Minimum Bookings on Scheduled Tours
Maximum Bookings: All scheduled tours maximum of 4 participants. The maximum guide-to-client ratio is 1 to 4.
Minimum Bookings: A minimum of 2 bookings are required to run each trip, with the following modifications:
One person only: you have the option of re-scheduling, or paying for a 1:1 private tour, or canceling for a full refund of fees paid
2 people only: We shorten the tour to 4 full days
If your trip may be shortened, we will discuss this with you well in advance of the start date.
NZAC Discount
New Zealand Alpine Club Members can receive a discount on this trip.
Check with us before booking, with your membership number, and we can supply a promo code.
What’s Included
Free use of our range of technical gear
Professional NZMGA/IFMGA mountain guide
All meals and snacks from lunch day one until lunch on the final day
Accommodation from day one to finish
Flights into and out of the mountains
Local Transport
Alpine Guides Technical Manual
Not Included
Touring skis or splitboards
Touring boots
Skins
Private Tours
All tours start at 08:30 AM on day one and finish at 5:00 PM on the final day.
Check-in at Alpine Guides office in Mount Cook Village.
Please read our booking Terms and Conditions.
NZAC Discount
New Zealand Alpine Club Members can receive a discount on this trip.
Check with us before booking, with your membership number, and we can supply a promo code.
Private Tours, July to October 2024
Prices are per-person, in NZ Dollars
| Group Size | 4-days | 5-days | 6-days | 7-days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $8,050 | $9,225 | $10,495 | $11,775 |
| 2 people | $4,475 | $5,190 | $5,950 | $6,695 |
| 3 people | $3,300 | $3,875 | $4,450 | $5,050 |
| 4 people | $2,725 | $3,225 | $3,725 | $4,225 |
A deposit of 25% is required to secure your tour.
How to Book Private Tours
Talk to us about guide availability and your preferred dates.
Advance bookings are strongly recommended for August and September. “Walk-in” and short-notice enquiries may not be possible to fill.
What’s Included
Free use of our range of technical gear
Professional NZMGA/IFMGA mountain guide
All meals and snacks from lunch day one until lunch on final day
Accommodation from day one to finish
Flights into and out of the mountains
Local Transport
Alpine Guides Technical Manual
Not Included
Touring skis or splitboards
Touring boots
Skins
Private Tours are best for experienced backcountry tourers, or small groups of friends. We will tailor the experience to suit your team’s background and ambitions.
Inclusions and Instruction
Experience Required
Previous high alpine mountaineering or ski touring experience is not required.
Minimum requirements:
At least a strong intermediate to advanced downhill skier/split-boarder, comfortable off-piste
A high level of aerobic fitness
Be used to carrying a backpack, or skiing with a backpack
Instruction Topics
The high mountain environment presents challenges, and safe travel requires some specialised knowledge. Depending on your level of experience you may cover some of the following instructional topics to round out your backcountry skills:
Avalanche hazard evaluation
Avalanche transceiver searches
Uphill skinning technique
Crevasse rescue
Snow anchors
Route finding
Terrain analysis
Mountain navigation
Off-piste skiing technique
Your expert NZMGA/IFMGA guide will provide as much (or as little) instruction in technical skills as your team requires - making your trip both an adventure and unique alpine learning experience...
Venues, Snow, and Aircraft
Mountain Hut Venues
Our tours are based out of mountain huts throughout Aoraki Mount Cook and Westland National Parks. This region provides the most extensive high-alpine backcountry skiing in NZ.
Where your tour is based will depend on the trip length and your objectives. Locations most often used are at the head of the Tasman (Tasman Saddle Hut, Kelman Hut), Pioneer Hut at the head of the Fox Glacier, and Centennial Hut at the head of the Franz Josef Glacier.
Even after the best-laid plans, on arrival, we will discuss the options available (given the snow conditions and weather forecast) at the time.
Aircraft Use
We fly the in and out from your mountain venue, by helicopter. The price is included in the fees. This avoids an arduous trip on foot and maximises touring opportunities.
At the end of the trip, most parties will ski/ride down the major glaciers for a lower pick-up, but you may be picked up from closer to the hut, if conditions warrant.
Winter Seasonality and Snow
Snow conditions and temperatures will change throughout winter. Spring (September- October) snow conditions are usually best for first-time ski tourers. You can read more about winter snow and weather here on our FAQ.
