With winter upon us, it is time to dust off the skis and consider a ski touring trip on the main range. With the right conditions you will be rewarded with stunning scenery, no crowds and on the right days, fresh powder skiing.

Consider the following activities whilst you are in the backcountry:

Hiking/Skinning – There is plenty of hiking/skinning to be done. With nice weather and no crowds, the Main Range is spectacular and a highlight of any winter trip. Make sure to take plenty of food, clothing, navigation gear and emergency equipment with you.

Photography – Photography in the mountains in winter is stunning. The downside – it is very cold at dawn, dusk and during the night if you are doing Astrophotography. The other issue is that whilst it is often best to camp lower down, where everything is a bit more sheltered, the photography/views tend to be better higher up. You will also need to take a tripod to stabilise your camera if you are going to be taking photos in low light.

Skiing – Plenty of runs across the Main Range to cater for all sorts of ability levels. Backcountry skiing does involve a bit of climbing but the rewards: no trees; no people; fresh snow – unbeatable and well worth the effort. Make sure you have avalanche gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and know how to use it.

Relaxing – Nothing like a cup of tea on a sunny day at the top of the mountains.

WINTER PLAY IN THE BACKCOUNTRY