Are You Winter Ready?
Winter is arriving fast in the Southern Alps.
For many people, winter adventure starts with fresh snow and big objectives — but the best days in the mountains usually come from having the skills and confidence to make good decisions when conditions change.
Whether you're planning your first ski tour, preparing for alpine climbs, or wanting to travel more safely in avalanche terrain, our winter skills courses are designed to help you build real, practical mountain capability.
Winter Skills Courses - https://mailchi.mp/ac7b4adbf6eb/alpine-recreation-newsletter-may-2026-winter-skills-courses
#WinterIsComing #AlpineSkills #AvalancheSkills #MountainSkills #WinterMountaineering
Free safety lab alert!
Winter is coming and many of us will be heading outdoors. Whether you’re a seasoned expert or just starting your mountain journey, we want you not only to enjoy your adventures, but above all to stay safe.
That’s why we’re stoked to share the ORTOVOX Safety Academy, featuring free, interactive digital labs – Lab Rock, Lab Ice and Lab Snow. These are designed to help you build confidence, understand risks, and make better decisions in the outdoors, in both winter and summer conditions.
Check them out on our website and learn vital knowledge through these interactive, free training platforms from the comfort of your own home.
Keen to put your knowledge into practice?
Our trusted partners at @alpinerecreation offer a wide variety of courses, ranging from avalanche skills, ski mountaineering, backcountry skiing and ice climbing, to mountaineering, winter mountaineering and alpine climbing. All courses are led by highly qualified and experienced mountain guides who love sharing their expertise in a safe, practical and inspiring way.
These highly experienced alpine professionals are here to help you build confidence, skills, and true independence in the mountains. You can find all the details on their website.
Happy adventuring!
#ortovox #alpinerecreation #staysafeinthemountains #mountainadventures #gooutandplay
A winter day at Erewhon
The fire is still crackling from the night before as the first light hits the Potts Range.
Outside, fresh snow squeaks under boots. Coffee brews on the stove while skins dry beside the fire and the group studies the morning’s plan — broad alpine basins, powder-filled gullies, and long ridgelines stretching towards the Main Divide.
This is life at Erewhon Hut.
Perched at 1750m on the historic Erewhon Ski Field, the hut was purpose-built for ski touring and split-boarding — warm, insulated, comfortable, and surrounded by incredible terrain in every direction.
A typical day begins straight from the hut door. Skis on, skins attached, climbing steadily into untouched terrain as the Rangitata spreads out far below. Some days bring mellow powder laps close to the hut. Other days involve bigger missions onto surrounding summits and steep freeride descents.
By afternoon, everyone drifts back to the hut — drying gear, sharing photos from the day, watching weather move across the peaks from beside the fire.
No crowds. No ski lifts. No rush.
Just a small group sharing a real backcountry winter experience in one of the most spectacular corners of the Southern Alps.
We have a couple of Erewhon Hut ski touring dates coming up this winter, with spaces currently available.
📅 6-9 August (5 spaces)
📅 24-27 September (5 spaces)
If you’ve been dreaming about a winter escape into the mountains, this is one of our favourite places to do it.
Alpine Recreation Newsletter – A winter day at Erewhon - https://mailchi.mp/ce95ddcd461e/alpine-recreation-newsletter-may-2026-erewhon-hut
🔗 /new-zealand-backcountry-skiing-and-split-boarding/the-best-freeride-ski-touring-and-split-boarding-adventures-in-new-zealand/erewhon-hut-potts-range-ski-and-split-board-tours
#ErewhonHut #SkiTouring #BackcountrySkiing #Splitboarding #NZWinter
❄️ Step into winter. Slow it down. Explore more.
Snowshoeing is one of the easiest (and most rewarding) ways to experience the Southern Alps in winter — no skiing skills required, just a sense of adventure. From first-timers to seasoned trampers, it’s a chance to wander through a true alpine wonderland at your own pace. 
Whether you’re heading into the Two Thumb Range, Cass Valley or Aoraki / Mount Cook, our guided snowshoe hikes take you far beyond the crowds — into quiet valleys, snowy ridgelines, and unforgettable mountain views. 
🏔️ Why join a snowshoe hike?
• Beginner-friendly options — no prior experience needed
• All equipment provided (snowshoes, boots, avalanche safety gear) 
• Stay in warm, private mountain huts with fires and epic views
• Small groups, experienced guides, and everything taken care of
✨ Perfect for families these school holidays
Snowshoeing is a fun, accessible way to introduce kids (and non-skiers) to the mountains. Think snow play, cosy huts, and big alpine scenery — without the need for lift passes or technical skills. We can organise a bespoke adventure for your family — just ask us!
From gentle high-country adventures near Lake Tekapo to bigger alpine journeys at Aoraki / Mount Cook, there’s a trip to match your pace and experience. 
❄️ Winter is calling — come explore it with us.
🔗 /new-zealand-alpine-hikes-trekking-and-snowshoeing/the-best-snowshoe-hikes-and-winter-treks-in-new-zealand
#SnowshoeingNZ #WinterAdventure #FamilyAdventure #SouthernAlps #SchoolHolidaysNZ
Want to become a confident winter mountaineer?
Our 5-day Winter Mountaineering Course is designed to give you the skills to move safely and efficiently through alpine terrain in winter — from cramponing and ice axe use, to ropework, navigation, and avalanche awareness.
Based at a heated private hut, you’ll train in real conditions in one of the best alpine classrooms in New Zealand.
✔ Ice axe & crampon techniques
✔ Snow anchors & rope systems
✔ Avalanche awareness & rescue
✔ Route finding & mountain weather
Courses run May–October
🚫 23-27 May FULL
✅ 5-8 June (1 space)
✅ 1-5 July (1 space)
✅ 6-10 July (1 space)
🚫 11-15 July FULL
🚫 1-5 August FULL
Build the skills. Unlock bigger objectives.
#WinterMountaineering #MountainSkills #Crampons #AorakiMountCook #CarolineHut
Autumn delivered something special on our latest Ball Pass Summit Trek ✨
Fresh snow transformed the landscape around Caroline Hut, turning Ball Ridge into a deep, slow-going alpine journey. Every step a little harder… but every view even better.
Golden autumn light on the peaks, crisp air, and nights so clear the sky felt close enough to touch.
This is what makes time in the mountains unforgettable — challenging conditions, shared effort, and moments that stop you in your tracks.
📸 @reiseraxel
🔗 /new-zealand-alpine-hikes-trekking-and-snowshoeing/new-zealand-alpine-treks-and-hikes/ball-pass-summit-trek
#BallPass #AorakiMountCook #AlpineTrek #MountainLife #CarolineHut
Caroline Hut ❤️
A great base for our mountaineering courses, alpine trekking adventures, and ascents of Kaitiaki and Turner Peaks. And (unlike other huts in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park), it’s heated with a cosy log fire 🔥
Have you visited yet? Are you up for the challenge?
🔗 /alpine-lodge-and-huts/private-mountain-huts/caroline-hut
📸 E. Holden & @biaboucinhas
#CarolineHut #Mountaineering #AlpineTrekking #MountainHut #SouthernAlps
Autumn (uh Winter?) came in hard last week at Caroline Hut ❄️
We arrived to bare rock… and woke up to winter. Over a metre of cold powder fell during the course — 30cm on day one, and it just kept coming. Gale to severe gale force winds had us holding onto our hoods and adapting plans daily.
Despite the wild weather, the team got it done. A brief window along the ridge when the wind eased, the rest of the time honing skills close to the hut (so good to have a warm hut with a fire 🔥 ). With so much fresh snow, there was plenty of opportunity to learn in real conditions — avalanche awareness, companion rescue, and group scenarios became part of the classroom.
Ropes were going up while pitching on the final day, and digging out trad placements from under a metre of snow definitely kept things interesting.
From rock to full winter in a matter of days — a proper introduction to the realities of the mountains.
📸 @biaboucinhas & E. Holden
#mountaineering #alpinecourse #winteriscoming #avalancheawareness #wintermountaineering
And when the storm cleared… it was white!
1m of fresh cold powder snow fell during our mountaineering course last week. We were wrapped up warm and cosy by the fire inside Caroline Hut!
📸 @biaboucinhas
#MountaineeringCourse #CarolineHut #AorakiMountCook #WinterMountaineering #SouthernAlps
When our summer mountaineering course turned into a winter mountaineering course last week…
📸 @biaboucinhas
#mountaineering #aorakimountcook #carolinehut #mountainskills #alpineclimbing
