Last Aspiring Ascent for the Season 2011 / 12 ?

Is this the last Aspiring Ascent for the season?   David from Auckland caught the weather window and made it to the top last Sunday with NZMGA Climbing Guide - Tim Steward.    The settled Autumn weather has finally broken and we suspect...it will be all over for another climbing season.    Congratulations to David on his summit. 

Next stop....Cordillera Blanca, Peru for 6 of our lucky climbing crew with Aritza Monasterio from Andinista Adventures and NZMGA Guide:  Tony Donaldson.

What's Xavier Fournier, IFMGA up to?

What's Xavier Fournier, IFMGA up to?

For those who met our Euro guide Extraordinaire - Xavier Fournier this summer, you'll know that he's a man of many talents.    He's now back in Switzerland as the safety supervisor for a famous bi-annual ski mountaineering race called the Patrouille des Glaciers.   Its civilians vs.the Swiss Army and Xavier's job is to check and supervise the course and also to ensure that everyone has the correct safety gear.  Given that weight saving is paramount, Xavier has to keep his eye out for the "cheaters" !  Competitors have been known to try and "beat the system" by taking plastic toy shovels and cutting their probes down to 1 m!

Here's some photos from the set up.  Nice uniform Xavier!!  

Announcement:  Aspiring Guides and NZ Snow Tours in 2012.


For most of us, time is short!  So having someone else organise all transport, lift passes, accommodation, gear hire and all the other stuff that goes along with a ski holiday in NZ can certainly make life a breeze.    For the last 8 years, this is what Simon & Ange from NZ Snow Tours have been doing ....and they've been receiving rave reviews!  Check out what the they offer at http://www.aspiringguides.com/nz_snow_tours.html.


NEW for 2012, Aspiring Guides has added 3 backcountry ski options to the packages they offer.  From 1 day Backcountry Touring at Treble Cone, to 3 day touring option on the Pisa Range near Wanaka and from Aspiring Guides private hut at Black Peak.... we've got your next ski holiday organised from the moment you step off the plane!

Celebrating a Summit

Everyone has their own unique way of celebrating when they get to the top!   Liz certainly showed her own style after a successful summit of Mt Aspiring 3033m this week with Felix Landman.     For those of you who may be concerned, unseasonably warm Easter weather meant there was a low risk of frostbite !  

Hmmm ..winter's on its way?

It was fine and sunny at lake level yesterday, but not quite the same in the Remarkables above Queenstown as Richard and his guide Xavier Fournier discovered.   One of our first early dumps of snow.  Certainly made the climbing a little more interesting...that's for sure.

South Island Alpine Rock

Dave and Steve did an accidental tour of South Island rock when the weather slowly pushed the trip from Fiordland to Mnt. Aspiring.   With bad weather battering the island they were able to avoid the rain and take advantage of great climbing conditions. Going with the theory that "it must be good weather somewhere" the duo along with guides Xavier Founier and Whitney Thurlow spent 7 days beginning with the classic Talbot - McPhereson Traverse deep in Fiordland, moving to the Remarkables and doing 6 rope stretching 60m pitches on the East Face followed with the summit traverse and then a 2100m climb to the summit of Mnt. Avalanche in Mnt. Aspiring Park.  With bad weather all around the four managed to stay on dry rock the entire time, a great trick when it works!

Homer Saddle and Moirs mate rising out of the clouds

Climbing "Talbots Ladder" which was the the original way that land access to Milford Sound was gained before the tunnel was installed

Pitch 3 Remarkables  grade 17

Spot the climber on the exposed Remarkables summit traverse

Climbing above the Bonar Glacier on the way to Avalanche Peak.  David comfortable with his masculinity wearing a scarf like that!

Summit Cracks on Avalanche Peak

Ron and Murray at Pioneer Hut

 There are not many places these two have not visited but Fox Glacier has been on the list for a while.  Ron was an early hut warden at homer hut in Fiordland in the early 60's and is still going hard.

Murray on Lendenfeld summit with Tasman in the background