Specialised, Innovative, Personalised

We believe that by attending one of our instruction courses you will shortcut the road to mountaineering proficiency and increase your safety and enjoyment factor, whilst developing the necessary skills. Each course is structured with a focus on meeting your individual objectives, whilst creating an environment that enhances group dynamics.

We are about action. We believe that you don’t gain judgment, skills and safe practices in the lecture room. Our courses take place in the mountains, where with top professional guides, you will be learning, doing and gaining the skills to become a safe and knowledgeable climber/mountaineer.

The emphasis of our instruction courses is on learning and developing the essential skills, which include:

• trip planning
• equipment considerations
• snow and ice climbing
• anchors
• belaying and rope skills
• glacier travel techniques
• alpine rock climbing
• route selection & navigation
• weather analysis and forecasting
• avalanche awareness
• camp management
• crevasse and alpine rescue
• emergency shelters

Comprehensive course notes are supplied, which will assist in your trip planning, equipment selection and purchase advice, what you can expect to be doing on a day to day basis, and much more. A reasonable standard of fitness makes any mountain experience more fulfilling.

Instruction Courses

Mountain Skills Course "New Zealand's best introductory mountaineering course" An essential 7 day course for anyone travelling in the mountains, no matter the degree of technicality. Get to grips with a wide range of skills which will enable you to move with confidence through the mountain environment. This price includes a flights into the mountains, hut fees, New Zealand Alpine Club annual membership fee, technical equipment and course manual. These courses are based at either Centennial hut in Westland National Park, Plateau hut in Mt Cook National Park, or French Ridge hut, Mt Aspiring National Park.
Mt Aspiring Expedition Course Learn state of the art alpine climbing techniques on steeper, longer and more remote routes. Objective 3000m is an 8 day course for those who want to upgrade skills or move towards climbing a larger peak under the watchful eye of a guide. Mt Aspiring is the objective of this course.
Steep Alpine Ice Learn state of the art alpine climbing techniques on steeper, longer and more remote routes. Steep Alpine Ice is an eight day course focussing on just that.
Winter Waterfall Ice Climbing Learn the skills required to safely ice climb [with an experienced partner or group of 3 clients].  Stay in our heated private hut close to the ice. Fly in and out for these 4 day courses in July and August.
Rock Development From 3 day introductory courses teaching you the fundamentals to 6 day multipitch alpine rock courses. If you've always yearned to take your rock skills to new heights, here's your chance for an exhilarating rock adventure. The Twin Streams option is suitable for your first Alpine Rock experience.
Private Instruction You nominate the dates and duration, and we design a course syllabus around your skill base and objectives. 6, 8 & 10 days.
Summit Week Advance your alpine skills by climbing a variety of routes that are conducive to your experience level. This is a 7 day ascents programme with an emphasis on skills progression.
Darran Mountains rock week 1:1 or 1:2 week based at Homer hut, Fiordland national Park.... alpine rock climbing. There's nothing more to say ....

Classic Ascents in New Zealand.

We specialise in customised guiding on high quality routes on New Zealand's highest and most spectacular peaks in the Westland, Mt Aspiring, Mt Cook, and Fiordland National Parks.

Maximise your success and enjoyment of an ascent with our personable guides who pride themselves on providing a first class service. Some classics... Aoraki/Mt Cook, Mt Aspiring/Tititea, Mt Tasman, Mt Tutoko, Mt MalteBrun.

Ascents

Mount Aspiring 'Tititea' (3027m) The `Matterhorn of the South'. An ideal first summit via the North West ridge or the classic South West ridge for the more technically orientated (1:1 guide-client ratio only). 5 days.
Mount Cook 'Aoraki' (3763m) Stand on the highest point in Australasia. This is a challenging and demanding climb requiring a good level of fitness and past mountain experience.
Sacred Ancestors (Cook & Aspiring combo) Join us for a twelve day expedition experiencing the Sacred Ancestors Mount Aspiring and Äoraki / Mount Cook. These peaks are located in two different national parks.
Mount Brewster A remote peak accessed easily from the Haast Pass in a short 4 day trip. Experience beech forest, tussock vegetation, glaciers, fantastic views of the Southern Alps and a river crossing.
Other 4 day climbing expeditions If you are looking for a short stint in the mountains you can experience a fantastic and rewarding ascent. The option of flying in takes you to Mt Dixon or the Minarets, the walking in and out option takes you to either Mt Earnslaw or Mr Barth. This could also be a first summit under the watchful eye of your guide.
Grade 5 alpine climbs Climb the South face of Mount Douglas (grade 5), at the head of Fox Glacier or Mt Hicks. Both routes on the South Face follow classic lines, are objectively safe and offer superb steep ice climbing on an aesthetic mountain.
Summit Week Partner up with a guide for a week of climbing. 7 days. Peaks around the 3000m height : Mt Malte Brun --- grade 3 (West ridge or North ridge) ; Mt Sefton --- grade 2+ (West ridge) ; Mt Lendenfeld --- grade 2 (from Marcel Col); Mt Haidinger --- grade 3 (West ridge); Minarets --- grade 2.
Private Guiding Want something a little different to the standard trips? Don't quite fit into the square box? Always wanted to do that obscure traverse? Want to remain flexible in case of bad weather or conditions? Hire your own personal guide for anything from 1 day to 1 month and let us customise your own adventure in the mountains.