MUMC Alpine Camp - Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park - Kelman Hut

Requirements: To be eligible to attend members must have completed a professionally provided alpine climbing course in glaciated, high mountain terrain or have similar mountaineering experience. Ideally participants should have an intended climbing partner.

To promote climbing and encourage MUMC members to climb together, forging partnerships for future endeavours, and most importantly to support members with some experience to develop their climbing by undertaking a second (or third) season in the mountains, MUMC is supporting an alpine camp at Kelman Hut on the Tasman Glacier. Honorary members Stuart Hollaway and Dale Thisltlethwaite will be joining us and they will be available to provide advice/answer your question once in the mountains.

Interested participants should register by getting in touch with the Mountaineering Officer , Gaetan, who will be acting as trip co-ordinator. Email : alpinism [at] mumc [dot] org [dot] au. Ideally participants should have an intended climbing partner. Where this is not already established, the trip leader will liaise with participants in advance to try to facilitate this. Where no suitable arrangement can be established, members will not be able to participate on the club trip.
This is an advanced trip for independent mountaineers. It is not a guided climbing trip or an instruction course. To be eligible to attend members must have completed a professionally provided alpine climbing course in glaciated, high mountain terrain or have similar mountaineering experience.

Due to the size of the hut, a maximum of 12 (perhaps 14) participants will be supported.
Registered participants will meet at NZAC Unwin Lodge in Aoraki Mt Cook Village on the night of December 26 to arrange flights into Kelman on the next weather clearance or to make alternate plans as dictated by the weather.
The described time frame should ensure that there is suitable weather for a good long trip in the hills. In the event of bad weather at the beginning or end of the trip the camp will organise themselves to hang out around MCV or head elsewhere to climb or tramp.Accommodation in Unwin Lodge $NZ20/member/night and Kelman Hut is $NZ31/member/night. Participants will need to provide their own food, stoves, fuel and climbing equipment, although the trip co-ordinator will attempt to liaise with all participants to make this as efficient as possible.All equipment except boots is available for hire from MUMC. Participants on the club trip will have priority access to club equipment.
In order to maximise our time and ability to exploit the best climbing available in the prevailing weather, we will be hiring cars for the duration of the trip. Hire & petrol will probably cost $NZ10-25/person/day.
 

Kelman Hut is a 24(+) bunk DoC Hut located at 2460m on the ridge overlooking Tasman Saddle and the Murchison Headwall. Kelman is a particularly good venue for climbers making their second or third trip in the high mountains. The many nearby peaks include a number of short grade 1 and 2 routes, including the classic South Face of Aylmer - Hochstetter Dome traverse, and some alpine rock cragging. The bigger classics of the area are ascents of Mt Annan(2934m), Mt Green(2837m), Mt Walter(2905m) and Elie de Beaumont(3109m). It is also easy to access routes on The Minarets(3040m) and Malte Brun(3198m).
The hut is usually reached by helicopter or ski plane. The cost of the flight varies depending on aircraft and loadings but is usually $NZ 2-300/per person. Multiple options exist for exit by air from the upper or lower landing sites or by walking out down the Tasman Glacier to the village (1-2 days) via the old Ball Shelter.

Estimated cost :

Due to the specific requirement, online sign up are closed. If interested please get in touch with Gaetan Mountaineering Officer : alpinism [at] mumc [dot] org [au]

Gaetan