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BALL PASS CROSSING OF THE MOUNT COOK RANGE

Ball Press Crossing | Aoraki Mount Cook | New Zealand TrekkingDepartures: November - April

QUICK FACTS

November-April, ex Lake Tekapo.

3 days | 2-8 participants | from AUD $895

Prerequisites: high level of fitness, multi-day hiking/trekking experience with 6+ hour days.

Season 2010 - 1011 Dates

Ring first to check availability!! We can advise you instantly of the most up to date trip availability.

Phone: 61 3 5364 2977 or Email: info@awt.travel

ball pass crossing guided new zealand trekking holiday

 

 

Nov 2010  2-4, 4-6, 7-9, 9-11, 11-13,13-15, 15-17, 17-19, 19-21, 21-23, 24-26, 27-29, 29-01Dec

Dec 2010: 1-3,3-5, 5-7, 7-9, 9-11, 11-13, 13-15,15-17,17-19, 19-21, 21-23, 24-26, 27-29, 29-31,31-02Jan

Jan 2011:  2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 12-14, 13-15, 15-17, 18-20, 20-22, 23-25, 26-28, 28-3-, 30-01Feb

Feb 2011: 2-4, 5-7, 7-9, 9-11, 11-13, 13-15, 15-17, 18-20, 21-23, 23-25, 25-27, 21-01Mar

March 2011: 2-4, 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12, 23-15, 15-17, 17-19, 20-22, 23-25, 25-27, 27-29, 29-31, 31-02Apr

April 2011: 2-4, 4-6, 7-9, 10-12, 13-15, 15-17, 17-19, 9-21, 21-23 (Easter), 25-27 (Easter), 27-29

 

Ball Pass Guided Trek - A Quick Overview

  • Hike up high in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, home of New Zealand's highest mountains.

  • Challenge yourself to an adventurous alpine trek, crossing snow fields, a small glacier and untracked, rugged terrain.

  • Traverse the Mount Cook Range from the Tasman Valley to the Hooker Valley in 3 days, climb an easy peak and explore the Ball Glacier.

  • Get close to the mighty Aoraki Mount Cook and enjoy breathtaking views of nearly all of our 3000m peaks. 

  • Be awed by Aoraki's Caroline Face as you hike up the Ball Ridge and watch its ice avalanches from the safety of Caroline Hut.

  • Tap into the experience of your mountain guide to learn new skills and venture onto terrain you wouldn't otherwise attempt.

  • Enjoy the comfort of two nights at the private Caroline Hut at 1830m/6000ft, with guaranteed bunk space in a spectacular location.

  • Relax in the good company of like-minded adventurers and hear an exciting tale or two from your guide.

  • Little or no mountaineering experience? No problem, but you do need to have done lots of hiking, be good on your feet and have a high level of fitness.

  • Don't have all the gear? No worries - all equipment is provided - including boots, harness, crampons, ice-axe.

Group Sizes, Prices & What's Included

Group size: 2-4 participants per guide, up to 8 with 2 guides.
Individual bookings welcome. If you end up being the only person on a trip you will have the option of changing to another date or a full refund.

Price: AUD $895 per person | Prices valid until 30 April 2011.

 

What's Included: guide, hut accommodation, all food & transport ex Lake Tekapo, crampons, ice-axe, and all other climbing equipment and boots if required, National Parks concession fees, 15% GST. Meals and accommodation before/after tour are NOT included.

TRIP ITINERARY

AWT Ball Pass Crossing | Aoraki Mount Cook | New Zealand Trekking

DAY 1:

08:00 am gear check at our office, 30 Murray Place, Lake Tekapo.

Travel to Mount Cook (about 1 hour), and the end of the Tasman Glacier. Hike up the old Ball Hut Road, parallel to the glacier. From Ball Shelter, climb 850m up the Ball Ridge to Caroline Hut at 1800m/6000ft, perched right opposite the awe-inspiring Caroline Face of Mount Cook. The panorama includes Aoraki Mount Cook and Mount Tasman, all the mountains adjoining the Tasman Glacier, and Lake Pukaki.

As the hut is fully stocked we only need to carry some fresh items of food (e.g. bread, fruit, vegetables, meat) and our personal clothing and equipment.

4-6 hours trekking.

DAY 2:


Learn basic mountaineering techniques. Climb Kaitiaki Peak (2222m/7290ft) south of Ball Pass and take in the dramatic views of the South Ridge of Aoraki. Maybe explore a crevasse on the Ball Glacier. Back at Caroline Hut take time to watch the sun set on Mt Tasman and the ice avalanches thunder down the Caroline Face.

6 hours return.

DAY 3:


This is the longest and toughest day, with exposed and steep slopes to negotiate. We cross Ball Pass at 2130m/7000ft. Now the view opens to the South Face of Aoraki, the Hooker and Mueller Glaciers, Mount Sefton and the Copland Pass. The steep descent from Ball Pass usually requires the use of crampons. When snow conditions are icy a fixed line rope method is used to ensure no-one can slide down the slope. The terrain is rugged and untracked and you rely on your professional mountain guide to find a safe route around gorges and bluffs down to the East Hooker Valley. Following old moraine terraces you hike through some of the lushest vegetation to be found in the National Park and return to Mount Cook Village. (8-10 hours). Return travel to Lake Tekapo.

The crossing of Ball Pass on Day 3 is subject to safe snow and weather conditions. The professional judgement of your guide will take into account all factors, including client fitness for the conditions.

Bad Weather Policies

Ball Pass

Caroline Hut is located on the Ball Ridge, in the lee of Mt. Cook (for the prevailing westerlies and nor'westerlies), so it is seldom that we cannot walk in to the hut, even if the weather is marginal. There is a wood-fired pot belly stove in the hut and a good drying rack. However, this is a high alpine environment and it could happen that the walk in to the hut may have to be deferred by a day. If all participants in the group have the flexibility to postpone the trip by a day and if guide(s) and hut are available, then we postpone the entire trip by one day. Otherwise the trip is reduced to a two day crossing and the group is being accommodated in Lake Tekapo for the first day. During the last few seasons we only had to take up this option once per season. Alternatively we can offer the "Tekapo High Country Trek", a 2 to 3-day mountain walk in the Two Thumb Range to the east of Lake Tekapo, based at the Rex Simpson Hut. This would only be an option if the weather looked as though it was going to be bad for all 3 days or if a climb to Caroline Hut is still not possible on day two. Since the Ball Pass operation started in 1991 this contingency plan has only been carried out once.

If the group is at Caroline Hut and the weather or snow conditions do not permit a crossing of the Pass then the group will descend to the Tasman Valley.

When you book a trip you book the guide and all the organisation that goes with it, you cannot book the weather. Our guides are trained and instructed to always make the best possible decision for all the participants. On rare occasions this could mean having to return or not to go to Caroline Hut on day one for reasons of safety. On such occasions we do not give a refund.

Caroline Hut

Caroline Hut | AWT Ball Pass Crossing | Aoraki New ZealandCaroline Hut is available for the exclusive use of our parties.

Located in a spectacular setting, directly opposite the Caroline Face of Aoraki Mount Cook

Fully equipped with pot belly stove, firewood, gas, solar lighting, sleeping bags and non-perishable food

 

 

 

Fitness &Trekking Experience

AWT Ball Pass Crossing | New Zealand Trekking | Aoraki Mount CookFor the guided Ball Pass Crossing you need to have previous hiking, backpacking, tramping or bushwalking experience. This trek is beginner mountaineering and is more demanding than other guided hikes in New Zealand, such as the Milford or Routeburn Tracks, because it is alpine, traverses snow fields and a small glacier and there is no track in parts. Where there is a track it is narrow, uneven and you have to place your feet carefully.

If you are planning to walk the Milford and Routeburn Tracks or any of the other Great Walks, then it is best to do these prior to the Ball Pass Trek, because those hikes are much easier than the Ball Pass Crossing.

The Ball Pass Trek is a good alternative to the Copland Pass Track which has become much more difficult due to glacier recession having cut off the access to Hooker Hut and steepening the moraine wall at the bottom of the Copland Ridge.

Besides personal clothing you'll need to carry some items of fresh food to the hut. Your pack on Day 1 should weigh no more than 10-12 kg, including the crampons, ice-axe, helmet and harness, which we provide.

Several hikes of at least 6 hours' duration involving some uphill are recommended as preparation for Ball Pass. You do not need prior mountaineering experience.

Participants for a Ball Pass Crossing need to:

  • be of above average fitness

  • have extensive hiking, tramping or bushwalking experience

  • be capable of sustained walking over steep, rugged, untracked and very exposed terrain

  • be able to hike or climb at least 6 hours in a day without difficulty

  • be sure-footed, well-coordinated and have good balance

  • have no fear of heights or problems with vertigo

For an easier option, we recommend the Aoraki Mount Cook Trek or the Tekapo Trek.

Further Information

Equipment: Helmets, harnesses, crampons and ice-axes are provided. A detailed equipment list will be sent at time of booking. Outdoor clothing, packs and boots can also be provided at no extra cost if necessary.

Accommodation pre-/post- tour: As our equipment check takes place at 8am on the morning of departure, you need to book accommodation in Tekapo the night before. After the tour, it is recommended to overnight in Tekapo again, or in Mount Cook. 

Insurance: In case of accident New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) will cover the majority of costs (about 80%) involved with evacuation and injury treatment, even for visitors to New Zealand. However you still need ordinary travel insurance to cover such things as your cancellation if an injury prevents you taking part on the trip, or a close relative suddenly becomes ill; and medical insurance in case you become ill. More information re Accident Compensation. The New Zealand Alpine Club provides a good mountaineering specific travel insurance.