Aspiring Guides - New Zealand climbing, mountaineering, trekking, ice climbing

Recent trips ... NZ's most determined mountaineer: Mid January brought us good company but bad weather. Phil signed up for a climb of Mt Tasman, although the weather prevented them from climbing Tasman, but they climbed Haidinger. Phil is the President of the New Zealand Alpine Club. Phil had both feet amputated after 13 days forced bivi with Mark Inglis due to bad weather on Mt Cook in 1982. Suffering raging blizzards, a helicopter crash involving the rescue crew and severe frostbite, both men were finally lifted from the mountain. Phil climbed Aoraki-Mt Cook 21 years later!

Recent trips ... while eating NZ's favourite cereal: Dick "I do muesli" Hubbard (Auckland, NZ) and his sister Joy who lives in London, had a wonderful time with Marty climbing Mt Aspiring last week. Geoff Bonney who sailed to NZ by boat, then walked to Wanaka, climbed Mt Aspiring with Phil Penney on the same day as Dick and Joy. "Marty and Phil were superb guides, and were totally able to accommodate our limited capabilities. Their patience was hugely appreciated. At all times I felt totally safe with them. Thank you for a great adventure". Dick Hubbard.

Recent trips ... Marc Connors makes it ! ... third time lucky : Marc Connors wrote an article in the latest issue of Outdoor Australia about his recent climb up Mt Aspiring's SW with Steve Monks. http://www.aspiringguides.com/dyn_documents/autumn_09_article_on_aspiring.pdf

Mt Aspiring - book in for next summer!
We are the local specialists in the Mt Aspiring National Park. If you are fit and interested in this spectacular ascent, contact us to talk about it. With one of our skilled guides, Mt. Aspiring is an excellent way to experience your first big ascent. Guaranteed to be an unforgettable experience! http://www.aspiringguides.com/mount_aspiring_tititea.html

Staff frolics: Nick Morgan, Gary and Stefan climbed the north buttress of Mt Aspiring. Nick Cradock, Murray and Milo, have had a busy February visiting the Darran Mountains in Fiordland and set up a new route called "Vindication" on Moir. Look out for details in the next NZ Alpine Club magazine. Gavin & Andrew had a couple of days off work and climbed the full north ridge and down the West ridge of Maltebrun. Good news for Anthea who got "Aretnaphobia" 20 (last years nemesis) on her first try this summer. Jo Haines left on Tuesday for Colorado for 5 weeks on a ski holiday. Whit's been surfing at Colic bay and kiting at the local windy haunts. Whitney and Stefan climbed "Indian Summer" at the Remarkables. "Ravages of time" was visited by Stefan and Gavin (on separate trips). Milo and Jean had a great adventure up the "Bowen Allan Corner" on Moirs Mate in Fiordland. Marty bought a mountain bike, he and Suzanne have been whizzing round the local tracks and doing a bit of local climbing. Mal's off to Nepal shortly to guide Mera Peak. Simon and Jo has a lovely weekend of weather while climbing Mt Barth (Ahuriri Valley). Gary and Nick also managed to have a great climb on Maltebrun - West Ridge.

Mountain Skills Course:
We have one space left on our April 10-16 introductory Mountain Skills Course. This is a challenging (from all perspectives) seven days introduction to mountaineering covering the basics while actually out there climbing! Prerequisites are simple: a keen sense of adventure, good fitness. Previous rock or mountaineering skills is a bonus.

Topics include:
snow and ice climbing
belaying and rope skills
glacier travel techniques
route selection & navigation
weather analysis and forecasting
avalanche awareness
camp management
crevasse and alpine rescue
alpine rock climbing and emergency shelters
mountain first aid
http://www.aspiringguides.com/introductory.html

Desktop photo:
We have some excellent photos to share with you. Just email back with "desktop photo" in the subject line, and we'll email you a photo every 4-6 weeks. If you'd like to share your photo send it to us (less than 1Mb please!) When you receive the photo, it's easy to transfer it to your computer's desktop where you can look at it for inspiration.

Tip of the week:
It only hurts the first time.

Winter activities:
From a cosy hut, try out waterfall ice climbing in July and August. Small groups, fun package. To so easily access water ice in New Zealand is a rarity and have such a great base as a hut, luxury. We will be running introductory courses consisting of small groups (max 4). All you need is four days, a sense of adventure, good fitness, and a desire to try something new and exciting. We provide most equipment needed. Bring your own group or join a group; courses commence late June, July and August. http://www.aspiringguides.com/winter_waterfall_ice_climbing.html

Wild walks and treks (our group size is 2-5) http://www.aspiringguides.com/wilderness_trekking.html
A SPECIAL kind of Wild walk in the Mt Aspiring National Park. How would it be? NO FREEZE DRY? NO HEAVY PACKS? NO CROWDED HUTS? NO BUSY TRACKS? NO LARGE GROUPS?
WOW! something refreshingly different ... You now have the choice to do some of the harder and more remote tracks - we have pre-placed expedition style camps with yummy food, sleeping bags, private tents, stoves, chairs, tables. Large groups are not allowed in these remote areas, and our group size runs between 3 and 5. Expect delicious food such as Indian curry with Pompadoms, chutney and coconut, pancakes for breakfast!

What's on when this season ?
ski/board calendar http://www.aspiringguides.com/ski.html
climbing calendar http://www.aspiringguides.com/backcountry_calendar_climb_trek_ski.html
wild walks calendar http://www.aspiringguides.com/trek.html

Put forth your aspirations, we will convert them to reality ...

The team at Aspiring Guides - climb-trek-ski
Mt Aspiring National Park
w: www.aspiringguides.com
e: action@aspiringguides.com
p: +64 3 443 9422
f: +64 3 443 9540
l: Lake Wanaka, New Zealand