ASCENTS WEEK – A fully customised mountaineering programme designed around your experience, objectives, weather and conditions.
Endurance
Difficulty
Duration
Variable
Min 5 days
Guide Ratio
1:1 or 1:2
Route Dependant
Equipment
Price
From $2600
Ascents Week is Peak Experience’s premier customised alpine climbing programme. Rather than focusing on single summits such as Mount Aspiring or Aoraki Mt Cook, we build a multi-day mountaineering itinerary around your experience, fitness and climbing objectives.
Operating throughout the Southern Alps, Ascents Week allows climbers to attempt multiple alpine objectives while working alongside an IFMGA mountain guide. Objectives may range from introductory alpine ascents through to technical mountaineering routes on New Zealand’s most iconic peaks.
Every programme is tailored to prevailing conditions, weather, and the goals of the individual climber.
Peak Bagging or Learn and Climb?
Day 1 – Planning, equipment review and approach.
Day 2 – Skills consolidation and acclimatisation ascent.
Day 3 – Major alpine objective.
Day 4 – Secondary alpine objective.
Day 5 – Weather reserve day, additional climb or exit from hills
Longer programs can extend to 7–10 days
Ascents Week is designed for climbers who want more than a single summit attempt.
It suits strong hikers moving into mountaineering, alpine climbers wanting to build experience, and experienced climbers looking for a customised guided program in the Southern Alps.
Because objectives are selected around your ability, weather and conditions, the program can combine instruction, guided climbing and multiple summit attempts within one flexible itinerary.
As a minimum, you should have recent mountain or climbing experience that allows you to move efficiently for long days in alpine terrain.
Useful preparation includes either recent rock climbing experience or several long alpine days of 12–15 hours on moderate mountaineering terrain. You should be comfortable seconding easy rock climbs in mountaineering boots, have basic crampon and ice axe skills, and be able to manage simple abseil descents.
A good benchmark is the ability to carry an 8 kg pack for 1000 vertical metres in around three hours.
If you are not sure whether your experience is suitable, contact us before booking. We can help match the programme to realistic objectives.
IFMGA & NZMGA certified — the highest international mountain guiding qualification, recognized in 26 countries
Meet our Guides
Based in Wanaka — 2.5 hours drive to Mt Cook village. We’ve spent years climbing and playing in the New Zealand Alps
DOC concession holder for Mt Aspiring National Park. AdventureMark accredited for safety and quality.
1:1 guide-to-client ratio — personalised instruction, flexible itineraries, and maximum safety on the mountain
Flexible Approach – we adapt the programme to weather and your progression
Progressive guiding pathway — from Alpine Skills through Mt Aspiring to Aoraki
New Zealand’s Southern Alps are heavily influenced by fast-changing weather systems, and flexibility is essential for a successful mountaineering trip.
Ascents Week includes one weather contingency day to improve your chance of climbing in suitable conditions. If a planned objective is out of condition due to weather, snowpack, crevasses or access issues, your guide will work with you to choose the best available alternative.
This flexibility is one of the main advantages of an Ascents Week programme. Rather than being locked into one mountain, we can adapt the plan to make the best use of the conditions.
Ascents Week is guided at a maximum ratio of 1:2.
This is because alpine climbing terrain often requires close movement management, short-roping, pitched climbing, glacier travel, route finding and careful decision-making. Some objectives are suitable at 1:2, while more technical routes may require 1:1 guiding.
Your guide will make the final decision on ratio and route suitability based on the terrain, conditions and client experience.
Mountaineering involves real hazards, including avalanches, crevasses, rockfall, wind, snow travel, hut-based risks, sun exposure and moving with crampons.
Your NZMGA or IFMGA mountain guide will discuss conditions, route options and risk management with you throughout the programme. Their role is to help you understand the hazards, make appropriate decisions and choose objectives that suit both the conditions and your ability.
You should always feel able to speak up if you feel uncertain or unsafe.
Helicopter access - we normally fly in to the Mtns with a range of different Helicopter providers depending on location. Heli access is NOT covered in guiding fee
Talk to us about training programs or recommended progression pathways to get fit for the mountains
Exit by helicopter (not included) - Walking out is possible from many objectives depending on conditions and location. - talk to us
Minimum Trip Length – 5 Days
5
$4,800 NZD
6
$5,700 NZD
7
$6,700 NZD
5
$2,600 NZD / Pers
6
$3,100 NZD / Pers
7
$3,600 NZD / Pers
We are constrained with the number of clients we can safely guide through alpine climbing terrain. For safety we are only able to guide a max ratio of 2 clients on fairly simple technical terrain – ie Ascent of 1:2 on the RAMP of Mt Aspiring is only just manageable – 1:2 on the SW Ridge of Aspiring is not
Most guided climbs focus on a single objective. If weather, conditions or access don’t cooperate, your options can become limited.
Ascents Week is designed differently. Rather than committing to one mountain, we build a flexible programme around your goals and the prevailing conditions. This allows us to adjust objectives throughout the trip and often results in more climbing, more learning and a better overall mountain experience.
Probably.
Many climbers assume they need extensive alpine experience before considering a multi-day mountaineering programme. In reality, Ascents Week can be tailored to a wide range of abilities.
Strong hikers looking to take their first steps into mountaineering can often participate alongside experienced climbers pursuing more advanced objectives.
The best approach is simply to contact us and discuss your background. We can quickly determine what objectives are realistic and enjoyable for your current level of experience.
That’s completely normal.
Many clients know they want a quality alpine climbing experience but are unsure which mountains are most appropriate.
One of the advantages of Ascents Week is that we can recommend objectives based on your experience, fitness, technical ability and the current conditions. Often the best mountain isn’t necessarily the most famous one.
Mountain weather is one of the biggest reasons people choose Ascents Week.
Rather than being locked into a single objective, we can adapt the programme to suit the forecast and mountain conditions. Alternative peaks, instructional days, lower elevation objectives or different regions can often provide excellent climbing opportunities when a primary objective is not suitable.
Flexibility significantly increases the chances of a successful and rewarding trip.
Success in the mountains is not measured solely by standing on a summit.
Weather, snow conditions, avalanche hazard, rockfall, glacier conditions and numerous other factors influence decision-making in alpine terrain.
Our focus is always on making good decisions and providing the best mountain experience possible. Sometimes that includes reaching a summit. Sometimes it means adapting the plan and pursuing a different objective.
Either way, the goal is to maximise both safety and enjoyment.
Absolutely.
Many Ascents Week clients travel alone.
Private guiding allows the programme to be fully tailored to your objectives, pace and learning goals. Solo climbers often find they gain more experience and flexibility than they would as part of a larger group.
No.
Your guide’s role is to work with you, not judge you.
Before the trip begins we discuss your experience, fitness and goals in detail. Objectives are then selected to match your abilities and provide an appropriate challenge.
The aim is to create a programme that is ambitious, realistic and enjoyable.
The fitter you are, the more options become available.
Most alpine objectives involve sustained uphill travel, often carrying a pack over steep terrain. Long summit days of 8–15 hours are common.
As a general guide, you should be comfortable spending consecutive days in the mountains and capable of carrying a moderate pack over significant elevation gain.
If you are uncertain about your fitness level, we are happy to discuss suitable objectives before booking.
Yes.
Many clients use Ascents Week to improve their mountaineering skills while also pursuing summits.
Topics such as crampon technique, ice axe use, glacier travel, ropework, alpine movement and route finding can all be incorporated into the programme where appropriate.
This combination of guiding and instruction is one of the most popular aspects of Ascents Week.
If your sole objective is one specific mountain, a dedicated ascent may be the best option.
However, if you want flexibility, multiple objectives, skill development and the ability to adapt to conditions, Ascents Week usually provides greater value.
Rather than putting all your hopes into a single summit attempt, you gain an entire week of mountain opportunities.
Potential objectives may include Mt Aspiring, Liverpool, Glacier Peak, The Footstool, Mt Sefton, Sabre Peak, Barrier Knob, Mount Brewster and many other peaks throughout the Southern Alps.
The exact itinerary is developed around your experience, objectives and the conditions at the time of your trip.
Ready to take on New Zealand’s highest peak? Contact us to discuss your experience, dates, and objectives. Our guides will give you an honest assessment of your readiness and help plan the right expedition
