Treble Cone seems to be a place I only go to once it is closed for the season. Being so close to Wanaka and the biggest resort on the South Island it pulls in a lot of people. If it’s a powder day you can expect that number to double. From my one previous experience we had two good powder laps before the place was tracked out. So when snow arrived in late November and I had a few days left on my trip it was time to give the place another chance.
Otago
Mount Barff and the Liverpool Hut Sufferfest
Mount Barff is a beautiful peak situated in the Mutukituki valley with the Liverpool hut at its base. My friend Ben arrived in New Zealand for a two week trip of ski touring and exploring. We went over different ideas of places to go once he landed at the Queenstown airport. We decided to drive North to Wanaka and after picking up some groceries head to Mount Aspiring National Park. Once there we would climb up to and stay at the Liverpool Hut and do a ski tour around Mount Barff.
Exploring the Treble Cone Backcountry
I started my 2017 season doing the traditional renting a Juicy Van and driving around and locals yell at you type of trip. There were two reasons for this, One you can camp wherever you want and two you get free tickets to Treble Cone ski resort. Though to some it may seem like a waste I used to my ticket to go ski touring in the Treble Cone Backcountry with my friend Lorenzo Rieg.
I’ve known Lorenzo for a few years taking a trip with him to Norway as well as a week long trip in his home of Innsbruck Austria and he just so happened to be in Wanaka New Zealand.
Hope Lake in the Otago Backcountry
In 2017 I found myself back in New Zealand and ready to go on some new adventures. I had gone down on a trip with my wife and after a month of tourist based activities it was time to get back out in the backcountry. My friend Adam came up with a plan to do a heli accessed mission to Hope Lake in the Otago Backcountry. Once dropped off we would set up a tent and ride some lines in the area.
Ski Touring Mount Clarke in the Reese Valley
I quickly realized that my time in NZ was running out with less that two weeks so I was fortunate to meet up with my friend Manu. We decided to do a predawn mission up the Reese Valley, ski touring Mount Clarke.
Returning to the Remarkables for Some Late Season Powder
It was time to leave Mount Ruapehu and the North Island to head back to the Southern Alps. After a long night of hitch hiking and getting onto the first plane available. I was heading back to the South Island and meeting up with my friend Adam Flemming. With new snow in the high country it was time to returning to the Remarkables.
Backcountry ski tour on the Routeburn Track
Studying the maps and the weather forecast a plan came together to do a backcountry ski tour on the Routeburn Track. We would base ourselves out of the Routeburn Falls hut and find lines on one of the most famous hiking trails in New Zealand. After leaving Adams place Wiggles and I made our way from Frankton to Queenstown.
A Brief Stint in the Craigieburns and the Remarkables
When everybody had given up on the season the snow finally started falling and with over 30cms of new we were off to the Craigieburn Range for my one and only time riding Craigieburn this season. Huge thanks to Licence to Chill
For the past month and a half there had been no measurable precipitation so people were starved for powder.
A Quick Stop in the Remarkables
With the snowpack returning it was time to head south into the Otago Country. Wiggles and I took a bus down to the Queenstown area where we met up with Adam Flemming. We made our way up to the local ski hill for a backcountry ski tour in the Remarkables.
Exploring the Backcountry options around Cardrona Alpine resort
After a great day checking out the Remarkables we decided to head North to Check out the Backcountry of Cardrona Alpine resort. As we drove over the Crown Range from Frankton we were excited to see the area covered with a fresh dusting of snow.