"I would highly recommend this course to anyone who wants to consolidate their climbing and hit some really decent ice as it would be tailored to your ability; the environs are also so beautiful!!!" Chris Smolka, Victoria 2007 click here for this story
"I found my ecstacy with Aspiring Guides" Sam Gibbs, Outdoor Australia journalist Click here for this story
"On a serious note I would like to take the time to thank everybody at Aspiring Guides you guys have shown me some great skills and also made me alot more confident and happy in every day life,and also with my climbing I know I will push myself harder to become more profient.I want to say also that you guys are very lucky to have James working for Aspiring Guides,not only is he very good at his job but also he is a great person and I feel we got on well together. THANK YOU ASPIRING GUIDES" Steve Cowan, Brisbane, Australia
"Pete and Jean were excellent and amusing company. I received an excellent intro to ice climbing and had a lot of fun. The style of the course was relaxed, I felt safe at all times. A great amount of effort went into making sure the clients got what they wanted to achieve." Michael Page, Kent, UK
Tom Rodriguez, New York, NY ....
- How would you rate your guide’s performance, manner, and professionalism?
Murray was outstanding. I’ve been on a number of guided expeditions in the past, and Murray stands out among the best of them. He was thorough, supportive, and encouraging. He was always upbeat.
- Did you achieve what you wanted from your course?
I got a lot more out of this course than I ever imagined. My skills on ice improved significantly.
- Would you recommend this course to your friends? Why?
Yes. Technically the course was super. In addition, you get to see a part of the world you may not otherwise see and experience.
"I was totally impressed with the pre-course contact - the info on equipment needed, fitness etc was all excellent and timely. Any trip in to Black Peak is great - the hut, the food, being in the mountains in winter etc were all fantastic but the actual climbing was definitely my favourite part. Great course and I was really impressed by the way Aspiring Guides is running right now - seems like a great team right from the office/admin end of things to the guiding and Paul and Dave would be stoked to see it all running so well!" Gus Roxburgh, Wanaka, NZ
"I would like to thank you for providing a fantastic course with a top notch guide, who, not only taught us heaps on ice, but was a great drinking partner too! To get to do my first lead climb ever, on ice was far beyond my wildest dreams."Kathryn Hutchinson, Perth, Western Australia
It doesn't seem quite right to climb a frozen waterfall.
From a medium you can drink to something that resembles rock and then climb, it's a miracle. Ice climbing is bizarre, as weird as it gets, fantastic. Go and try it!
The ice climbing on Black Peak is waterfall ice. To so easily access water ice in New Zealand is a rarity and have such a great base as a hut, luxury.
The head of the Blue Creek Valley is draped with climbable flows of varying length and difficulty. Depending on your ice climbing aspirations and skills, we can descend to the Blue Creek ice routes (40 minutes below the hut).
Alternatively we can head up towards the summit of Black Peak for mixed climbing. Access would be on foot/snowshoes.
Our heated private hut, at 1800m on the mid-reaches of Black Peak (2283m), is an ideal base for ice climbing on Black Peak.
This ice climbing course is structured to your level of ability and experience, aimed at skills progression - from toprope through to multi-pitch ice climbing. Those who want to extend themselves can do so by learning to lead climb.
Whichever direction we head in, the course will introduce you to skills required to safely climb ice with an experienced partner or group. The emphasis of our instruction courses is on expanding and re-developing the essential skills:
Movement on Ice - for example French technique, front pointing
Technical Ice Tool Skills - positioning and placement of the axe on moderate ice
belaying and rope skills
The use of technical tools on steep ice including how to swing tools, secure placements and remove tools
Protection - Choosing and placing ice screws and pound-ins, how to construct v-threads and ice bollards, building safe 'earnest' anchors
Efficient Ropework - knots, belaying, rappelling
Safety topics - an understanding of ice and the ice environment. An understanding of subjective and objective mountain hazards
Black Peak is a 5-7 hour skin/snowshoe from the summit of Treble Cone Ski Area or a 5 minute helicopter flight from the valley floor. The reasonable cost of flying in saves time and energy for the ensuing days of instruction. We move around on snowshoes if conditions dictate
Guide Ratio
maximum 1 guide : 4 clients
Prerequisites
Good fitness, no previous experience
Weather contingency
A great bonus. This one day could apply to the START of your course (day one could be delayed by a day)
Accommodation
Heated private hut
Bonus
Both flights are included
Technical climbing equipment included
One day weather contingency in case the weather is unfavourable at the start of the course
*or book a group of 3 for your private course for any of the above courses or anytime the hut is available
# no weather contingency on this course
One day ice climbing is also available. Fly direct to the ice cliffs at Black Peak. Climb Climb Climb. Price includes qualified guide/instructor, all technical equipment (plastic climbing boots, crampons, ice axe, ice screws, ropes, harness, helmet, belay device and quickdraws, carabiners, avalanche transceiver), two way helicopter ride, lunch and snacks. This runs every flyable day. Bookings essential and registration 5pm the evening prior. Have a spare couple of days in case of unflyable weather.
The course price includes; qualified guide/instructor, permit fees, both flights, all trip related meals and energy foods, hut fees, technical equipment. Additional costs are for plastic mountaineering boots, snowshoes etc.
