Simultaneous Summits !

On 12/12/12/ our guide Matt Chessor topped out on Mnt. Lendenfeld  (3194m) with Mike Hall.  A beautiful climb of one of New Zealand's highest peaks. Here is the happy couple on top with Mnt. Cook in the back ground.

While they were climbing they could watch the progress of Mount Aspiring Guide's Federico Varengo and Bett Koch as they climbed the south Ridge of Mnt. Dixon.

While these two routes are close by each other, Dixon is accessed from Mount Cook Village on the eastern side of the mountains and Lendenfeld is approached from the the western side, over 6 hrs away by road!

Racing the weather on Mnt. Cook

December 3rd Cook Ascent

Summit Rocks at sunrise.  Red sky in the morning proved to be accurate measure of the coming front.

From the top of the Summit Rocks the approaching front is clearly evident

 View from the summit! With the winds increasing it was time to get down

By now the front has clearly covered the western side of the mountains and is beginning to spill over onto the Linda Glacier Below and the Tasman Glacier in the distance

Down to the safety of the lower Linda Glacier just as the rain is starting

It is all worth it for the memories of a great summit

Pure NZ Mountaineering - Climbs Without Helicopters

Great mountaineering accessed by foot!

It's easy to forget that there are so many interesting & worthy peaks in NZ that can be  accessed on foot.  Sure, glacial recession has made the going harder, but there are still many peaks that don't require a slow and arduous battle up glacial moraine.    Moreover, many of the them can be climbed on foot in 4 days.   We have a list of just a few of them on our website.

Dan Turner, is one of our Australian clients who likes his NZ mountaineering to be more on the "natural" side.   An avid amateur film maker he has generously made a neat little clip of last years ascent of Mt Brewster 2515m with IFMGA Guide - Stefan Sporli.  It's great footage!  

This years mission was Nun's Veil 2700m in the Mt Cook Climbing Region.  We'll leave Dan's next video to tell that story.

Enjoy. 

Mount Aspiring IS ON

Guide Simon Howell along with Adam Coates and James Mantle just finished an 8 day Aspiring Expedition.  With a ton of new snow just before the course they were lucky enough to be just in time for some great weather.  With too much snow on the Ramp Route to be safe, the trio climbed the North West ridge gaining it via the "Kangaroo".

Planking, Slack-lining... Railing??

A New Sport?

You've all heard of Planking and Slack-Lining.   Do we have a new sport?   "Railing".  Guess the jibbers have been doing it for a while now.  But perhaps, not on foot and not at 2200m / 7200ft.

14 November, 2012 - Federico Varengo, IFMGA.  Plateau Hut, Mt Cook National Park, NZ

How Do You Get to the Top of NZ?

Sheer hard work & determination!

Says Julie Burton, Bathurst, Australia  

Julie Burton has a been a long term client and friend of Aspiring Guides.  A keen canyoner and speleologist ("caver"), she's been on many a mountain adventure with us over the years, including an ascent of Mt Aspiring.   Her next challenge was always to climb Aoraki Mt Cook.  But earlier this year she faced her greatest challenge.  Julie was seriously ill and underwent major surgery in April.

All through the ordeal, she focussed on one goal..."making it to the top of NZ".   A punishing fitness regime and sheer determination, saw Julie make a speedy recovery and have enough stamina to make the physically demanding climb in 18 hours!

Congratulations to Julie.   While canyoning and caving will always be her first love, we think she's got a lot more "up" to go in the future!  Peru 2014 with us... is next in her sights.

How would you celebrate your honeymoon?

As you may know Tim Steward, NZMGA Aspirant Guide recently tied the knot and to celebrate he kept tying those knots all the way up Mt Cook with his new bride Helen.  Honeymoon highlights, apart from the obvious views from the top... being able to ski the Linda Glacier to get back to Plateau in 30 minutes!  Whoo hoo! 

 Low points for Helen: super-cooled kneecaps and viscious ski boots!   If anyone out there knows of a sure-fire cure for uncomfortable ski boots (apart from an incinerator) - let us know.  Both Tim and Helen will be eternally grateful.