Hi All,
Another bumper winter season in Arthurs Pass and Temple Basin, running the New Zealand Snow Safety Institute www.nzssi.com
This year I have a few things to write about including the following.
- GRIVEL AirTec Crampons
- JULBO Explorer Guide Glasses
- BD Prodogy Gloves
- And my New Skis: G3 Reverends with DYNAFIT Bindings
It should be a great season to try all these things out, as I have 6 different courses running this year including 3. 7 day Mountaineering Skills Courses, 5 Day Alpine Skills for Climbers and Trampers and 5 Day Back Country Skills course for Skiers and Boarders. This is on top of 2 weeks of Snow Caving trips with different high schools and Mountain Training courses for Christchurch Polytec outdoor recreation Certificate program.
So I should have enough days in the hills this winter to let you know how things go. I have given you a shot of the main Lodge at Templebasin with a full moon while snowcaving one night.

New Route at Temple Basin Ski Field:
Just thought I would show you all a new route at Temple Basin Ski Field, it is on the main
ridge looking up the skyline from the top lodge. As far as we know there is no claim to it but
being not that long and very close to the lodge I am guessing that someone has already
climbed it.
The route starts at the base of the obvious face at the top of the towline just right of the
vegitated gully, protection is sparce but holds are great and very positive (climbed in my La Sportiva EXUMS the first time). It is possible to top rope it with one 120cm sling, size2 nut and .25 cam from a tiny ledge at the top, or if you are feeling solid to free climb it.
Next time you are up there check it out and let me know what you all think.
With any luck we will be putting more up on peak 1728m Nth of the top lodge in the next few weeks.

Skippy the French Man Gr 12.15m
-G.Geerling & S. Athura 2009