![Mt Rolleston: from carpark to the top [Silent Climbing in New Zealand]](/img/o.gif)
4 ай бұрын
5 ай бұрын
6 ай бұрын
8 ай бұрын
11 ай бұрын
Пікірлер
@Tony-ji5cb 10 күн бұрын
Amazing, thanks for sharing!
@alpine_squad 8 күн бұрын
Thank you, Tony!
@Billy123bobzzz 12 күн бұрын
Excellent, thank you! We have been depending on our Apple iPhone for navigation for years and it has been excellent. In the past we would download an offline map that we had to pay for but Apple updated iOS some time ago so you now have a download-map option which eliminates that cost. For serious mountaineers they might still want to buy a dedicated topo map app but for us the Apple Maps work just fine. We also like that the Apple iPhone 15 and newer can make phone calls through satellites so if you are out of cell tower range then your Apple iPhone can enable you to call for help via satellite.
@alpine_squad 11 күн бұрын
Hey, thank you so much for sharing! 😊 Indeed, this is quite a dilemma. Phones are becoming more sophisticated and reliable, but as you said, it all comes down to personal circumstances and the activities each individual does in the wild. For us, having a good, cheap, but reliable topo map on our phones works just fine! Good luck on your adventures, and may we all learn from each other. Peace! ✌️
@barryvanderhaven688 13 күн бұрын
I know a bloke who has climbed that 50 times..
@alpine_squad 12 күн бұрын
There aren't many of these blokes around, are there? I guess we might be thinking of the same person here 🙂 Lucky you guys living in Christchurch, you can climb Rolleston almost every weekend! 🏔️😊
@rawmeatdumpling 15 күн бұрын
Hi, what kind of backpack do you use and what would you recommend for mt rolleston?
@alpine_squad 12 күн бұрын
Heya, we use Osprey backpacks and have quite a collection of them already, lol. For a one-day return mission like Mt. Rolleston, Angelica would normally use an Osprey Mutant 22L backpack, and I would use an Osprey Variant 28L backpack. However, on that day, we had our Osprey Mutant 52 and Osprey Variant 52 because we were also planning a 4-day mission up the Waimakariri River to climb Mt. Murchison later that week, and those were the only backpacks we had with us. The volume of your backpack will usually be determined by several factors such as the complexity of the route, the gear needed, and your ability to pack and use less stuff.
@johnallsopp6324 16 күн бұрын
This video deserves far more views. I was amazed, horrified, and totally absorbed. Cheers.
@alpine_squad 16 күн бұрын
Thanks for your feedback, John! I am so thrilled you could walk the whole way up and down with us by watching this video - it was what we were trying to achieve… - Angelica
@michu5872 20 күн бұрын
Beautiful place, nicely filmed. Thank you for sharing and all the best in your travels!
@alpine_squad 20 күн бұрын
Thanks 🙏, @michu5872! It’s such a serene environment that we can’t help it but share this beauty with everyone
@NRYT2360 22 күн бұрын
one good point to note, the Garmin can be tracked, the PLB cannot. The PLB is only good if you hit the SOS button. Otherwise, it's useless until then. Garmin, your family, or even emergency services, can ping/track your location, even if you have not hit the SOS button
@alpine_squad 21 күн бұрын
Yeah, you’re right. But it only is useful if you have someone to track you. In our case, we do not have family or friends concerned enough about us while climbing, so, carrying just a PLB is a good solution for us. Saves weight. But, if there’re people there that’d need to see your location and progress, having an In-Reach with you, is a very good idea!
@classickid324 16 күн бұрын
I can see how that is useful especially if you solo hiking and fall or pass out. But in most cases, people usually do not hike alone. PLB sounds like it has a better tracking speed since it uses all 3 heights of satellites.
@alpine_squad 16 күн бұрын
Totally agree!
@samdougherty5559 23 күн бұрын
Hi there, I'm wanting to get into mountaineering. I'm doing a snow craft course soon, but was wondering if you have any good suggestions on beginner climbs to progress on after the snowcraft course. I'd mostly be interested in climbs around Canterbury, but would also be interested in any around Aoraki / Queenstown region. Thanks!
@alpine_squad 22 күн бұрын
Hey Sam, that's a good question. If you're familiar with the New Zealand Alpine Grades, you'd probably be looking at grade I, 1 (1-) winter/spring missions such as: Mueller Hut and Mt. Ollivier Mt. Philistine via Warnock's Bluffs Avalanche Peak from Arthur's Pass Village Mt. Hutt via Little River Route Single Cone of the Remarkables Or basically any hill covered in snow in the closest range to Christchurch Then you could progress towards doing grade II, 1+; 2 routes such as: Mt. Tapuae-o-Uenuku via Staircase Stream Route Mt. Rolleston via Otira Slide Mt. Earnslaw, East Peak Mt. Murchison via White Glacier Route Mt. Brewster via West Ridge The Nuns Veil And then, let's say if you've already done these, you'd figure out what's next. One possible suggestion is to join the Canterbury Mountaineering Club (CMC). These guys organise a lot of nice trips.
@samdougherty5559 15 күн бұрын
@@alpine_squad Thanks you so much for the info! Planning to slowly work my way up with a intro to snow course followed by some av training and then intermediate snow course. Cheers for the easier route suggestions!
@alpine_squad 15 күн бұрын
All the best Mate! It's worth looking into the Remarkables Ice & Mix Festival in Queenstown at some stage. These guys taught us everything we needed to know to progress to some cool peaks and routes. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3asqaqsntJnorc
@samdougherty5559 14 күн бұрын
@@alpine_squad yeah I was actually looking at that, but all the beginner courses have sadly sold out. Just on the waitlist for CMC at the moment
@alpine_squad 14 күн бұрын
@samdougherty5559 yeah, they’re selling fast. Look for clinics at Remarkables Ice & Mix 2025 not later than October-November this year. We’ve been coming every year since 2019. Started with Snow Craft, then Learn to Lead, then Ice&Mix and then did our own general climbing. Every year is different and is super fun!
@dionmarinovic9940 24 күн бұрын
Hey what month did you do this hike in? How deep would you say the snow was on average?
@alpine_squad 23 күн бұрын
Hi Dion, great question. It's mid-June, and there's a moderate (yellow) avalanche danger. The snow was knee-deep in some areas. We attempted the route the previous day but had to turn back because we were sinking waist-deep before the snow had a chance to settle.
@barbaracameron-smith7093 27 күн бұрын
I am confused. Mt Aspiring sits directly above Aspiring Hut. In the olden days (1970s) you walked on a bit, got to Scotts Bivy and climbed 'up the gut' to the Bonar Glacier. From there you walked up the glacier to Colin Todd Hut.
@alpine_squad 24 күн бұрын
What you’re describing sounds like the Bevan Col route… This new Aspiring hut was rebuilt in the same location as the old one, so the way up would have been the same as in this video… It’s quite a long distance to be honest, but could it be that your memory compressed all the painful hours into minutes and left you out only with the best parts?
@mairamtajogi Ай бұрын
I was hoping for better view from summit
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
We too, lol 😂
@mairamtajogi Ай бұрын
I saw your other video and got know your partner is not an experienced hiker, then too she managed to climb Mt Aspiring.. thats commendable
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Yes, Angelica’s growing, she progressed very well within last 6 years. She wants to climb Ama Dablam one day 😊
@mairamtajogi Ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad are u based in NZ ? I am from Auckland, i did Roys peak last winter and the view from summit was so beautiful i fell in love southern alps. After that i did Coromandel Pinacle and Tongariro. I want to do something this winter, could you pls suggest some good hiking points in south island where i can get good view from summit?
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Yes, we live in Auckland. A classical Mueller Hut in winter (if you’re up to walking on crampons yet), that’s a good one. We also have a video on it. Single Cone of the Remarkables, Mitre Peak in Fiordland, Mt Earnslaw later in the season, but these ones are with elements of mountaineering. Then you can progress to climb Mt Brewster, but also do Ruapehu and Taranaki in summer.
@mairamtajogi Ай бұрын
Which month did you hike ?
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Hey, it was late December, just before the snow bridges were gone. Many believe that the best time to climb Mt. Aspiring is between November and December.
@Driftjp Ай бұрын
We travel, we hungry no money we eat rice cracker and condensed milk in tube 😂
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Yeah, except that it had to be lightweight as the hut was 2 days away from the civilisation up on Bonar Glacier, so we had to carry all our stuff in our backpacks. So yeah, pretty much that’s the reason for the rise crackers and condensed milk in a tube :)
@alohaalia1091 Ай бұрын
I do not support nestle and their unethical ways.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Well, that’s the only option of condensed milk in tubes in our area 😢
@peanutaxis Ай бұрын
I climbed this in the summer. It occurs to me that this is a lot more dangerous during the winter because, unlike the summer, if you start sliding you won't stop.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
@peanutaxis, you’re totally right! Everything becomes different in winter depending on snow conditions. If snow gets hardened to the almost ice like condition it becomes 10x more dangerous than in summer where you can scramble on the rocks…
@keisukekawawada4209 Ай бұрын
Thanks a lot
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
You are most welcome!
@Plugitinbby Ай бұрын
Hey long to ascent in those conditions? I am going in 2 weeks and considering ascent and descent in 1 day.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Hey, it's about a 1000m elevation gain and 7km from Cook Village (a shorter distance from White Horse Hill Carpark if it's not blocked by snow). It took us 7 hours to go up because the snow was really soft, and plowing through the deep snow was a challenge. It also took us 3 hours and 20 minutes to come down from the hut to the village. You'll be alright, just probably start earlier in the morning.
@acezblue Ай бұрын
is there any free training for alpine mountaineering? coz i really want to do it.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Hey, that's a good question. Though there's nothing free in the world today, you can learn from KZbin videos or books like "Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills" and other guidebooks. A lot of knowledge is available online. However, having a mentor who can share practical skills with you and develop a pathway for your growth might be excellent. Also, try to join a local alpine club, depending on the area of the world you're in.
@acezblue Ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad thanks im from New Zealand. I do a lot of tramping but i really love to go some alpine mountaineering stuff
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
If you do a lot of tramping, you already have a solid foundation for learning mountaineering, as much of the time is spent below the snowline during the approach (unless you're a rich cookie flying helicopters around). Depending on your location, you could join your local NZAC section or sign up for the annual Remarkables Ice & Mixed Festival in Queenstown. In our opinion, the clinics and instructional courses offered there are the cheapest and most effective way to learn snowcraft and leading in snow and ice. kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3asqaqsntJnorcsi=HU5pvyicYybl3ucC
@acezblue Ай бұрын
Thank you for this information. It helps a lot thank you. Now i know when im gonna start. . I never attempt doing some alpine mountaineering without knowing 1st the basic skills. So afraid to get caught by avalanche 😂@@alpine_squad
@davemacleod9623 Ай бұрын
Good effort an nice filming.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Thank you for your encouragement and kind words :)
@thefanone Ай бұрын
Congratulations on your assent what a beautiful sight please be safe coming down😊😊😊
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Thank you! It was more than four year ago though 😁
@aok5298 Ай бұрын
Hey @alpine_squad thanks for sharing, really cool video. I’m heading there in next couple of weeks to climb to summit. As an alternative to starting out from the T Crossing carpark I was considering starting at Whakapapa village, heading towards the lakes, bivvy/ camp close to base then ascending from the SW side of volcano. In your view, does the gradient on SW aide allow for this?
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Hey, thank you! If you are heading up from Whakapapa Village, there is a lovely track to the lakes. From there, continue up the ridge towards pt1650 at the end of the Upper Tama Lake track (towards the base of the volcano’s cone). Then, just head straight to the top following easier gullies. It’s a nearly perfect cone, so it’s pretty much the same from any side. Have fun with your adventure!
@timhutton1818 Ай бұрын
I climbed this with Chris (the pics you had in vid) was a great climb, the "abseil" was literally a 2-3m drop and no problem. Otherwise was an exposed scramble. Shame you missed out with weather
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Oh wow, thanks for the intel on the route, Tim! We are planning to go back and conquer that little step at some point soon, so this is helpful to learn it’s a very short section left. Have you done the South West ridge as well?
@timhutton1818 Ай бұрын
No, just in and out of the west ridge. Others we met up with came up the east ridge and around to the north, and said it was a good climb
@boostedshuttle2231 Ай бұрын
I call bullshit on this, I live hear and this is not the truth
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Thanks for sharing your experience, we live here too 😉 and that’s exactly what the weather in Southern Alps like 👍
@boostedshuttle2231 Ай бұрын
If you say so.
@basharmatrix6099 Ай бұрын
While i have seen rope like that in movies what is the pratcal purpose of them? I can imagine it being useful i a variety of wasys but want to know its intended purpose
@BikiniBottomDemolestor Ай бұрын
If you cant tell, its climbing rope, attatched to a harness, to clip into safe zones as you climb, protects you from high falls. Or pretty much anything you would need high strength rope for.. rope is a very broad object, can be used in a thousand ways.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Yep, as rightly said above, a rope like this will save your life when you are, for example, crossing a glacier with crevasses - your climbing partner on the other end of the rope will catch you if fallen in a crevasse thus saving your life; or the other example is when you’re climbing a 60-70 degree slope of hard snow or rocks and there is a danger of sliding/falling you and your climbing partner can start setting protection anchors thus literally attaching yourself to the mountain etc, so essentially it’s for navigating a dangerous terrain in the alpine environment. Hope it helps!
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
A great way to explain the purpose of the rope in mountains, thanks for this! 🏔️
@theyetti8811 Ай бұрын
Clickbait. I do believe that this video has been edited. Many different clips and background music.
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Hm, I’d disagree - there is no color grading, no voice overs, no explaining, no pop ups or additional icons, and of course you can’t film the whole assent which takes days as just one video file and upload that 24hour footage on YT. Check this vid out - it has been heavily edited in terms of story telling, explanations and narrations, various pop ups etc - kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKO8Z5qemZWfndU
@theyetti8811 Ай бұрын
Thank you for changing the video title. But
@Capfka 2 ай бұрын
I've never been a mountaineer and have never had any desire to climb high peaks. Great video, guys - detailed enough to show the challenge but not borring at all!
@alpine_squad Ай бұрын
Thank you! That’s so interesting for us to learn that our alpine journey can be of interest to a non-climber too… Though we believe, immersing into wild nature is a universal language of peace and love, so we all speak it!😇
@VINTERIUM..EXPLORIUM.1 2 ай бұрын
👍👍
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you friend! 👋
@gregoryborman1439 2 ай бұрын
When retrieving gear as the second, I prefer to clip it to the bottom of the shoulder straps on my pack (if I can’t put it on my harness). Putting it on a sling like you had gets in the way.
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
A great idea! I will try it next time as you’re right, having all that gear on a sling across the chest causes it to slide in front of me which is super annoying for my next climbing moves. Thanks for sharing, Gregory! PS. Yeah, the harness loops aren’t usually available because of the backpack blocking it. I also don’t know using loops on the hip straps of a backpack as it’s too far back…
@themouseism 2 ай бұрын
can you recommend a set of gear we should bring?please.
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Hey, a good question, for a GT traverse, I’d personally pack the following gear: - Single rope 50m - Cams sizes - 0,5; 0,75; 1; 2;3; - A set of micro wallnuts - sizes 1-5 - 2x 180 or 240cm dyneema slings for anchors - 4x 120cm alpine runners - 2x 60cm alpine runners - 6mm cordelette (3-4m) - Nut tool (or an ice axe - depending on the time of the year) - Personal alpine gear such as an ATC, 2x screw gate carabiners each, snap link carabiners, tethers; prusik cords - whichever you prefer. - you may pack a piton, just in case, but I only needed it once within last 5 years.
@arcterence 2 ай бұрын
Appreciate the detailed video and the great footage. What an amazing journey! I'm planning to climb it later this year and can't wait. All the best for future climbs! 🤘
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you, Terence! Over the time we realised that there’s limited info for ordinary folks that’d like to grow and learn how to progress and tackle some of the beautiful summits around. We wish there are more outdoor enthusiasts around that are keen to share their experience and also learn from each other! All the best with your plans tackling Aspiring! 💪🏔️
@alertbox 2 ай бұрын
A lot of work went into producing this video. Thanks.
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Indeed! Appreciate your comment☺️
@hg7240 2 ай бұрын
The outhouse used to have a wooden sign on it reading : "God's Throne", and back then it was all snow. I don't remember seeing so much rock.
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Huh that’s loads of creativity from someone to come up with a sign like this 🪧! How long ago was this? What time of the year were you up there? This is end of December and kind of expected to have bare rock at that altitude…
@hg7240 2 ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad We were there Jan/Feb 1989. I was my 3rd season climbing and the BEST memories I could have ever wished for. Stunningly beautiful country. cheers from New England
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Oh wow, yeah true, I imagine back in 1989 there was much more snow than now… We honestly feel very humbled knowing how many people visited this beautiful remote location throughout the years and that we all can connect with each other because of this beauty and life-changing experiences it gives!
@vnaidu4973 2 ай бұрын
awsome video guys!
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thanks, Vivek! 🏔️ Are you guys planning any exiting trips for this winter? ❄️🥶
@TomWoodwardVideos 2 ай бұрын
Well done guys, epic trip. I've gotta get myself up there next summer.
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thanks Tom! You’d definitely enjoy being up there - bring your Polish girlfriend along too. 😉☺️
@g1adman 2 ай бұрын
This was wonderful to watch, thank you for sharing your special adventure! didn't know it was called the East Ridge, I climbed up this route last year so while watching your video I felt very connected to your pilgrimage! If ever you feel inclined here is a short video you may view of my adventure up this majestic mountain/volcano :D kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZzOZWmFg9SJmbcfeature=shared
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you! We watched your video and that’s very brave to summit at a sunset time and decent in full darkness; glad it ended well… 💪 Also, checked your music - you’re very talented with your guitar playing! Are you doing any performances? 🎶🎸
@g1adman 2 ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad hadn't planned on a sunset summit, but in retrospect really grateful for the experience, coming down was a saga as lost my bearings so ended up in wild terrain and didn't get back to the car until the next day! I plan to go back but another route will be ventured .. glad you appreciated the music! currently recording new material, will be uploading new + older works over time. Thanks again for sharing your epic experience, the first I'd seen of anyone climbing up a similar path 🙂
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
@g1adman, Oh wow, spending a cold night on Taranaki is a dangerous endeavor, super glad you got back to the car safely in the end. If descending the northern route in complete darkness there is a chance of missing the right turn after the lizard rocks, ending up by a steep cliff called a body catcher… Curious if you had to stop at some point to spend a few hours waiting for the sun to come up to see where to go? Will be waiting for your new music videos then, all the best in the recording process.
@g1adman 2 ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad it's safe to say that coming down I did 'miss the right turn'! long story short at approx 4am I finally had in view the ski lodge looking down (right) from up top a cliff. I was physically spent at this point so yes did stop to lay down for a couple of hours nestled in some soft scrub (can't say I got any sleep) the rest was invaluable to recoup some energy for navigating safely down the cliff approx 6am now reduced to a slow hobbler! .. but I wouldn't change a thing, it was a transcendent experience I'll always cherish, it provided me a real appreciation for the journey you both undertook beautifully documented in your video :)
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Oh wow, the way you’re describing this sounds like it was a tremendously transcendent experience for you indeed. We too had nights of hobbling walks in full darkness filled with doubt and fear but you come out a different person on the other end for sure!
@fahimhasan1998 2 ай бұрын
Subscribe for unedited video
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you 🙏
@ciaranmoloney418 2 ай бұрын
Will Stay tuned for the video with all the details, looks great
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Hey, halfway through the video and we're pumped about this one! Finally conquered the mountain, but man, New Zealand weather is so unpredictable! 😅 Loved it! We'll definitely do it again, probably the South-West Ridge this time! 🏔️🌦️
@thelanonline 2 ай бұрын
Why weren't you roped up going across the glacier around 22:00 ?
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Hey, great question! The lower part of Bonar Glacier, especially between Bevan Col and Colin Todd Hut, doesn't have any big cracks or crevasses, especially later in the season when everything is already open. So, it's usually safe to cross without being roped up. Plus, there's quite a bit of traffic there daily, which kind of adds peace of mind. However, we roped up the last time we were there because we were crossing it in a whiteout. But as long as you can see where you're heading, it's usually alright. Approaching Colin Todd Hut from the Quarterdeck Pass or Breakaway would be a totally different story, though.
@TomWoodwardVideos 2 ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad good to know
@matthewlatty 2 ай бұрын
Awesome video, awesome hike! I just got back from hiking four days at Red River Gorge in Kentucky (personal fave place of mine). Home now, and I'm already missing the woods a little. Watching this was a nice segway into my tomorrow. Goodnight from Indy ✌️
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you! Your adventure at Red River Gorge sounds amazing! Do you make any recordings? The woods have a way of pulling us in, don't they? For us, going back to the city after being in nature can be a bit depressing. Totally hear you on that! Hope you have a peaceful night and lots of cool outdoor adventures ahead! Peace ✌️
@tanmaybhati6963 2 ай бұрын
which route did you guys use ?
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Hey 👋, this time the approach was via Bevan Col to Colin Todd hut, and then up ⬆️ classic North West Ridge bypassing the lower section via Kangaroo Patch. We’re to publish another video about this trip giving all the details in two weeks time.
@tanmaybhati6963 2 ай бұрын
@@alpine_squad aw thanks, saw your video - how to fail on mt aspiring. gotta a question you guy did Shipowner/North West Ridge and did you guys came down on the other side went up and climb the north ridge again ?, why not just follow the ridge all the way, is it harder ? ( planing to do my mountaineering cource next year in NZ, and would love to do mt aspiring soon after)
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
The "How to Fail" video was our first attempt on Mt Aspiring a few years back. The full North-West Ridge is a very good route. It's just long, and we're not the fastest party in the world yet. That day, we ran out of time as it was getting too late in the afternoon. This current video is our second attempt a year later; we took the Kangaroo Patch and joined the ridge before the buttress and then proceeded to the summit. All the best with your New Zealand endeavours next year. Mt Aspiring might definitely be a good one for you to climb!
@TheFockerizer 2 ай бұрын
is this after your Mt Earnslaw one??
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Hey, Earnslaw was back in 2019, and Aspiring last year, so technically, yes, Aspiring was after Earnslaw 😊
@kattacnu3843 2 ай бұрын
Awesome
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you 🙏 this video is meant to let the watcher sinking deep into the adventure following all the way up to the very🔝 of Mt Aspiring! We’re glad you enjoyed it!
@ReviveVeganCafe 2 ай бұрын
Looks like an awesome trip - thanks for sharing!!! J&V!
@alpine_squad 2 ай бұрын
Thank you, J&V! This is what helps us to appreciate creation of the wonderful Creator. And it’s a good place to be. We hope you’ll experience it too, one day :)
@holyflowerpots1400 3 ай бұрын
Very helpful thanks
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Thank you, Holy! We are glad that our findings may help others in their outdoor journey
@themouseism 3 ай бұрын
hi im so amazed with your vlogs, guys. may i ask what is the brand and model of your sleeping bags? please. thanks.
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Hi Jerwin, thank you! We try to share some of the things we've learned so others can be inspired to spend more time outdoors and experience the beauty of nature themselves. We have a variety of sleeping bags for different mountain adventures. For summer hikes and climbs, we use a lighter brand called AEGISMAX from AliExpress. It's made of 15D Nylon Waterproof material with FP800, 95% Goose Down, weighing 600g. The comfort temperature rating is -2°C, and it's very cost-effective. For winter adventures in NZ, we have the Rab Alpine Pro 800 Sleeping Bag. It has insulation of 650FP R.D.S. Certified European Duck Down, weighing 800g. The comfort temperature rating is -18°C. It might be a bit of an overkill, but we're still figuring it out for winter.
@joshhambleton90 3 ай бұрын
did you hire crampoins & ice axe?
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Hey Josh, we didn't need to as we brought our own gear. However, such equipment can be arranged through Alpine Guides at alpineguides.co.nz; just drop them an email.
@justjonoutdoors 3 ай бұрын
Great video with excellent points all the way around. For me, since my wife does not hike with me, the ability for her to “watch” me hike on a near-real-time map, and the ability to maintain two-way communication even when I am well beyond any hope of cell service is worth every penny…
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Appreciate your feedback, Jon! Totally agree that if two-way communication and your progress updates on a map keep your wife happy then spending this sort of money for her peace of mind & permission is totally worth it! 😂
@philipwilkie3239 3 ай бұрын
Slushy snow, late in the day and reaching your own physical and mental comfort limits made it absolutely the right decision. The key thing now is to build on this experience and maintain your confidence. Keep going - now is the time of your life to do these things. Best wishes.
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Thank you for your encouragement! This was a bummer for us for sure, but totally agree with you that this experience will help us to progress further... Our failures make us even more excited about mountains, so it is part of a journey ;)
@aspiringalpinist 3 ай бұрын
Great video!
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Thank you 🙏 We’re keen on watching your progress in tackling Mt Cook in the future! That’s what we all initially up to in Aotearoa 🙌 🇳🇿 aren’t we? 😉
@barbaracameron-smith7093 4 ай бұрын
Really appreciated this vid! Walked into the new Aspiring Hut in late September 2023 and must say was very surprised by the lack of snow coverage on Aspiring and surrounding peaks so very 'early in the season'. First visited this area in early 1970s, walking in with full packs from Queenstown Glenorchy via the Rees Dart Matukituki route over Cascade Saddle. We Aussies climbed 'up the gut' to the Bonar Glacier and made our way to the original Colin Todd Hut, as one did. Our route was considered late in the season (February) and the climb as we discovered was all about 'weetbix' rock compared to what we we used to in Australia, with little protection that we could apply in those days on a predominantly unfamiliar rock route, schist and so forth. The weather was good for the summit attempt, and after an exploratory climb the day before, long story short, I was very happy to fail and call it quits before we got started. I didn't think I was up to it. Thus said, getting down off the Breakaway to French Ridge was one of the most disconcerting experiences of my life, the gaping bergschrund being what it was at the time. You could see the original Aspiring Hut way down below, and wondered if you'd ever make it alive. Viva a cautious approach is all I can say. Be prepared to the hilt but work with the weather and be courageous enough to admit your concerns and weaknesses.
@alpine_squad 3 ай бұрын
Oh wow, your story is incredible, and it is very interesting to hear about how much the landscape has changed over the years! Your journey from the Rees Dart Matukituki route to the original Colin Todd Hut sounds like a true adventure of a lifetime, especially navigating the Bonar Glacier. The challenges with New Zealand schist is what we experience every time we go on our alpine adventures as well - it's a completely different vibe altogether. And the experience of the descent from the Breakaway to French Ridge, with the gaping bergschrund below, evokes a sense of both awe and trepidation. It's moments like these that remind us of the raw power and unforgiving nature of the mountains! Thank you so much for sharing your story! It serves as a reminder of the importance of respect for the mountains... Here's to many more adventures, filled with unforgettable moments and invaluable lessons learned along the way.