Bookings heavy for climbing season

Charlie Taylor, of Australia, Wanaka climbing guide Nick Cradock, and Geoff Millard, of Australia, on the summit of Mt Aspiring. Photo / Guy Cotter

The Mt Aspiring climbing season is off to a strong start, with guiding companies reporting good mountain snow conditions and client bookings, particularly from the Australian market.

Wanaka-based guiding companies Adventure Consultants and Aspiring Guides are completely booked out this month and next for climbing courses and ascents of Mt Aspiring, Mt Cook and other New Zealand peaks.

"I think people recognise that that's the time of year when the snow conditions in the mountains are at their best," Adventure Consultants owner Guy Cotter said.

The company had already turned away "around $100,000 worth of business" from international clients in November-December because there were not enough fully qualified guides in New Zealand to meet the demand and working with Immigration New Zealand to bring in foreign guides had been "problematical", Mr Cotter said.

Mt Aspiring has been particularly popular with climbers - predominantly Australians - in the past few weeks. Mr Cotter was "amongst the crowd" on a day about a fortnight ago when he understood 22 climbers had reached the summit of Mt Aspiring, the highest number he had personally experienced there at any one time.

"It was one of the little spikes you get," he said.

"I guess it just reflects the start of the season and a good weather window."

Despite a dry winter, frequent spring snowfalls had been filling up the glaciers, providing good mountain access. The snow conditions this year were similar to 20 years ago, when the mountains were accessible for the entire summer.

However, the situation could change very quickly if there was hot, dry weather in the coming weeks, Mr Cotter said.

Aspiring Guides director Andy Oxley said the company's pre-Christmas bookings were at maximum capacity and about on a par with the last couple of years.

Department of Conservation community relations manager Annette Grieve said this month's occupancy of Colin Todd Hut - at the base of Mt Aspiring's north west Ridge - was about 160 people, which was also similar to recent years.