This is a breakdown of my experience after 5 years doing ski tours in New Zealand. From 18 day ski traverses in the Southern Alps to a week long base camping mission on the North Island.
Rugged and isolated with famously bad weather New Zealand is a wild country with lots of opportunity for Type 2 fun. With just a few roads providing access if you are ski touring outside of the ski resorts its a splitboard on the backpack type of place.
The first section focuses on 2013 where I made my way out to the South Island for 4 months. Being that it was my first time in the area I learned about how things worked in the Southern Alps. From the weather to the access there were numerous new things that I needed to understand. Like most of my ski tours in Washington state nothing came easily.
Since you are on a Mobile Phone I have the trips listed above the Images.
Sorry about the headache and a full version can be seen on desktop
OZ Splitfest 2013
Checking out Remarkables Ski Resort
Exploring Cardrona Alpine Resort
Temple Basin Splitfest 2013
Checking out Ohau Snow Field
A botched trip from the Brewster Hut
Bad Weather at the Cameron Hut
4 Days at the Tasman Glacier
A Week on the Franz Joesph Glacier
Attempt at Mount Aspiring
Exploring an abandoned Treble Cone
OZ Splitfest 2013
1st Tour of the Season in the Remarkables backcountry of New Zealand.
Exploring the Backcountry options around Cardrona Alpine resort
Exploring Temple Basin Ski Area Backcountry and Splitboard Festival
Exploring the backcountry of Ohau Snow Field
Brewster Hut in Mount Aspiring National Park
Heading up to the Cameron Hut in the Arrowsmith Range
Snowboarding the Tasman Glacier and Ellie De Beaumont
Ski Touring the Franz Joesph Glacier of New Zealand
Attempt at Mount Aspiring
Riding an abandoned Treble Cone
In 2014 I made my way out to New Zealand with a six month visa arriving in late July and leaving on Christmas Day. This time around I started my season living in Fairlie but as it got later in Spring I was staying in remote hunting cabins. While it was one of the worst seasons on record I had a blast and really got to know all the different terrain around. With an open plan I was even able to make it to the North Island to stay on Mount Ruapehu for a week.
Back to New Zealand
Two Thumbs Range Ski Traverse
Powder Day at Porters Ski Area
Powder day at Cheeseman Ski Resort
Scenic day at Temple Basin
Devil’s Punchbowl near Arthurs Pass
Mount Wall in the Cheeseman Backcountry
Mount Dark Near Mount Cook
Crystal Bowl at Porters Backcountry
OZ Splitfest 2014
Temple Basin Splitfest
Cragieburn Traverse
Powder Day at Cragieburn Valley
5 Days at the Muller Hut
Ski Touring off the Routeburn Track
The Angelus Hut near Nelson Lakes
Late Season powder day at Temple Basin
3 Days in the Macaulay Valley
18 Day Symphony on Skis
8 days at Mount Ruapehu
Returning to the Remarkables
Mount Clarke in the Reese Valley
Treble Cone powder in November
Back to New Zealand and Mount Dobson
Two Thumbs Range Traverse from Roundhill to Mount Dobson
Powder Day Riding Porters Ski area
A Day Snowboarding Powder at Mount Cheeseman Ski Area
Scenic Day at Temple Basin Ski Area
Ski Traversing from Devils Punchbowl to Temple Basin
Mount Wall in the Cheeseman Backcountry
Mount Dark near Mount Cook National Park
Dire snow as we Head to the Crystal Bowl in Porters Ski Area Backcountry
OZ Splitfest by Firstlight Snowboards and Adam West
Temple Peak at the Temple Basin Splitboard Festival
Cragieburn Traverse 2014
Powder day at Cragieburn Valley Ski Area
Muller Hut: A Mission back into Mount Cook National Park
Backcountry ski tour on the Routeburn Track
Ski Touring around the Angelus Hut in Nelson National Park
Powder Day at Temple Basin
Ski Touring in the Macaulay Valley
18 Day Symphony on Skis Traverse in Mt. Cook National Park
8 Days Ski Touring on Mount Ruapehu on the North Island
Returning to the Remarkables for Some Late Season Powder
Ski Touring Mount Clarke in the Reese Valley
Treble Cone Powder day in November
By 2015 I had gotten to know the area quite well. With solid touring partners and an understanding of how the weather systems worked I made my way out with no specific plans or place to stay. Like every year before it was challenging conditions but I attempted to make the most out of it.
In 2017 I returned for a 2 month stint in the Southern Alps. unlike my previous trips this time I mainly focused on hiking as the snow line was quite high. That being said I did make my way out into the high alpine for a handful of ski tours.
