REMARKABLES ALPINE HIKE
Visit Lake Alta in the Remarkables mountain range.
The Remarkables Alpine Hike visits the lake Alta area just beyond the Remarkables Ski Field Boundary.
The highlight of the trip is climbing Wye Peak. From the summit you will have incredible views of the glacial carved mountain landscape. On a clear day it is possible to get views of Mt Aspiring, Mt Cook, and the Fiordland mountains.
The Remarkables area is well known for it’s mirror flat glacial tarns, golden tussock hills, schist outcrops and bluffs, streams and waterfalls, unique flora and fauna, and spectacular views over Lake Wakatipu. Single and Double Cone the highest mountains in the Remarkables range dominate the landscape towering above the glacial valley.
The prominent vegetation is snow tussock but the area also includes a wide variety of other special plant species including small alpine flowers that cover the Remarkables area in the spring and summer seasons.
Cairns mark the path of our journey through the alpine wetlands as we climb up to a glacial cirque and Lake Alta. From Lake Alta we climb to Wye pass and then on to the summit of Wye Peak to gain views of the Remarkables and the surrounding peaks of New Zealand’s Southern Alps.
This is an exciting and rewarding half day of alpine travel. You will need a medium level of fitness and be confident at moving on uneven terrain where no trail exists. Your guide will lead the trip from the front breaking trail through the soft pristine backcountry powder snow. All of our guides are specialist professional mountain guides that normally guide high alpine peaks so you will be in safe hands. Our guides will assist you and inform you about mountaineering and skiing in the backcountry and high glaciated mountains.
LOCATION
Remarkables Mountain Range.
MEETING POINT & TIME
Your guide will pick you up at 8.30am from your accomodaton in Queenstown.
TRIP DURATION
Approximately 5 hours.
BAD WEATHER POLICY
If we cannot operate the trip because of bad weather we will operate the trip on the next good weather day or give you a full refund – your choice.
OUR DAY
From Queenstown it is a 45 minute drive to the top of the Remarkables ski area road. From the ski field car park we will hike through the ski field and then into the backcountry. As part of the journey we will visit Lake Alta and then climb up to Wye pass and Wye peak so we can look into the Doolans and Wye Creek backcountry areas.
You can expect to be back in Queenstown by 1:30pm.
REMARKABLES ALPINE HIKE
BOOK A PRIVATE TRIP
INCLUSIONS
TRIP NOTES
Experience required
The minimum requirement is that you have an intermediate level of fitness and you are comfortable walking uphill on uneven terrain.
What to bring
- Hiking/walking boots
- Small water bottle
- Sunglasses
- Appropriate clothing for the day – fleece, wool, polypropylene, wet weather jacket & pants, warm hat
- Gloves
- Small hiking pack
- Snacks & food
- water
Clothing & equipment
Hiking in the New Zealand mountains requires that you have high quality equipment and clothing due to the extremes of weather we experience. Please ensure you look carefully at our equipment checklist. At the start of the trip your guide will go through your equipment and make sure that you have everything that you need for the trip.
It is important that you keep as close as possible to the equipment checklist. The focus is on ensuring that you have the equipment you need, but also on keeping your pack as light as possible.
Guide to participant ratios
Groups can be up to 8 participants per guide.
