Ski & Snow 2022

canterbury
Temple Basin is New Zealand’s most mythical ski resort. It is a place
of pilgrimage, a test of endurance, and lies as close to the sacred
heart of Kiwi freeride as you can get without skiing off Aoraki. Norwest
storm? It’s probably dumping. Take poles for the walk up.
When conditions are right snow gets sucked into the main bowl at
Broken River and conditions can be the best on the Range. The
Tyndall Tramway can bottleneck on a powder day. Walk up or get
there early. The BBQ on the Palmer Lodge deck - with kea lapping
the lard out of the fat reservoir - is quintessential New Zealand.
Head to the accessible backcountry options at Craigieburn Valley
for the more adventurous, including the sustained pitch to Big Bend
and Avalanche Corner; one of the best powder runs in New Zealand.
Craigieburn has some of the best freeride terrain in the country, with
more options than a Wall Street broker.
Mt Hutt off-piste
Porters is the closest ski resort to Christchurch (89km) for those
watching the clock and ‘Upper Leaper’ on the top T-Bar has chalky
mid-winter snow for most of the season.
Mt Cheeseman is Canterbury’s family resort secret. Avoid the
powder day frenzy elsewhere with easy backcountry laps in Tarn
Basin.
When conditions are perfect at Mt Olympus you’ll come to believe –
like the loyal club members – that this really is the playground of the
gods. Mt Olympus is both the proving and breeding ground of some
of the best Kiwi freeriders. Day trippers should book the excellent
lunch by phone before heading up (if you haven’t booked by 11am
you miss out).
Tasman Glacier Heli Skiing
with
Southern Alps Guiding
Aoraki Mt Cook
“The only operator licensed to heliski the Tasman Glacier”
Call today to make your winter booking
0274 342277 / www.mtcook.com