Vertical Resources

11/01/2024

And back at it in the land of the Rising Sun 🇯🇵

The sun came out today for a fun few laps out above Rusutsu West with a great team of Brits

Rusutsu Weat mountain boasts a unique amusement park that operate in summer which make for some surreal skiing + of course some great terrain choices for backcountry access and ski touring

03/09/2023

Surely something must be on the way

First rain then snow ? 🤔

22/08/2023

Observed what was likely a size 5 avalanche today from the summit of Liebig Dome

For perspective this is about 16-18 km away from where we were standing

A size 5 avalanche has a mass of 100,000 m3 or more

We’ve estimated the crown wall was at least 1.5 km wide with a depth of at least 1-2 m or more ( given how we could see it from such a distance ) and at least 100m long

This means that it would have at least a volume of 150,000 m3 of snow …

We don’t know the trigger - it may have been a serac collapse but unsure - but it ran far and WIDE and is most probably the Persistent Slab issue that we have been dealing with

This ran from Mt Phyliss - near Mt Sydney King and ram down and over the Aida Glacier for at least 2 km and then onto the Murchison Glacier

The billowing snow is called a powder cloud and hides the actual debris but the wind blast from these clouds can be devastating.

The poweder cloud ran across the Murchison and up the other side before slowly dissipating down and across the glacier ….

04/08/2023

Back up slumming it in Mt Cook Village and playing hide n seek with the white dragon!

We went out seeking information on the snow pack a few days ago in the Gammack range and found the recently awoken Persistent Slab problem.

After digging a pit in a fairly safe spot and getting some spicy results ( ECTP 11 SP down 45-50cm on faceted crystals under a crust - for those that know ) a nearby helicopter remote triggered a size 3 avalanche and several size 2’s.

These were a fair away away thankfully. Roughy 30 seconds later the low angle slope I was on settled with a loud bang and a series of size 1-2 avalanche were remotely triggered around the head of the Basin ( 1st Creek ) we were in …. After sidestepping back up the slope we departed 😉

By comparison going out with a small fun crew to do Ski the Tasman today was quite a bit more relaxing 😎

06/05/2023

Get in early to book your private or group ski touring/ ski mountaineering or ski touring course

Full information available on website or use message button to get in touch

Local Ski Touring
Wanaka Based from $275 (1:4 ratio)

Glacier Ski Touring
5 to 7 day programs
From $1650 ( ratio 1:4)

Ski Touring / Split Boarding Courses
Flexible programs / objectives / duration
Price on enquiry

https://verticalresources.org/back-country-ski-touring-wanaka/

23/04/2023

Avalanche Skills Course Dates Winter / Spring 2023

ASC 1 from $213 / person
Evening lecture + field day

30th June / 1st July
7th / 8th July
21st / 22nd July
28th / 29th July
18th / 19th August

Backcountry Tune Up 1 Day
From $180 / person 1:4 ratio
2nd July
9th July
23rd July
30th July
20th August

Avalanche Skills Course 2
From $950 / person
4 day course
July 14th -> 17th
August 25th -> 28th
September 22nd-> 25th

You can combine the ASC 1 course with an ski touring or back country tune up

Ski Touring / Split Boarding

Alternative dates / private courses available by arrangement

Visit the website for more info - avalanche education

HTTPS://verticalresources.org/avalanche-education/

27/02/2023

Fun times just as spring starts to arrive in Japan. This is the last few days of the Hokkaido Backcountry Tour

21/02/2023

Storm slabs happen - this is early morning after a storm on the NE aspect from Annupuri in Niseko. The region essentially is uncontrolled open slather backcountry after storms with people simply sending lines - this rider rode it out to the right hand side but you can see tracks from others down into the gulley below. There’s also a riad and several other terrain traps below this feature.

Take care out there

Boarder accidental 9:30 am NE / ENE aspect approx 900 m

15/02/2023

This

69 Likes, 8 Comments - Mal Haskins Vertical Resources () on Instagram: "Stupid is as stupid does … I guess at least get on the side where the large heavy snow bomb isn’t going to crush you Edit : this incident had NOTHING to do with me or any operation I’m associated with . ...

05/02/2023

It’s been a month of good times / deep snow and needing snorkels ! Still have a month 1/2 to go 😊

There will be page up soon on the website to give details for next years trips to this amazing place - Japow !

26/01/2023

7 Likes, 2 Comments - Mal Haskins Vertical Resources () on Instagram: "Amazing conditions in the last few days guiding in the Niseko Region of Japan. It’s hard to have a bad day when you’ve got terrain to yourself, 40cm of new snow and a good crew to show around ...

12/01/2023

Awesome day out ski touring on Mt Yotie for

Didn’t quite make the summit due to time constraints but we all had an epic alpine adventure 😎⛷️

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09/01/2023

A change of scene
Japan Backcountry skiing at Kiroro resort today

❤️❄️❤️⛷️

08/01/2023

360 image at Portal Point on the Antarctic Peninsula

01/01/2023

It’s the last day on the Peninsula for my Antarctic season and the weather was perfect for the start of 2023

Fantastic snow conditions giving us secure short roping conditions to the summit of Spigot Peak allowed us to have a great day out with good laughs and chats along the way.

As a bonus I got to take my friend Toni to the summit and back down safely - Toni has watched us climb in Antarctica for quite a few years now - but always from the Bridge. Was a privilege to get him up something he’s always watched us do 👍

31/12/2022

Exploring new sites on New Years Eve

22/12/2022

Moody shots from the last 14 days down in Antarctica

Glaciers / sunrises / gale force winds / clouds / ocean

15/12/2022

Standing on top of Jabet Peak again. Port Lockroy / Dorian Bay ❤️

Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track, and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

12/12/2022

We’ve just gone passed the South Shetland Islands. Perfect weather and arriving to start climbing tomorrow

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04/12/2022

Another ascent of Spigot Peak in Orne Harbour!

We had some pretty dramatically bad weather during this particular trip but had a window of opportunity to get 12 guests to the summit of this iconic rock pinnacle.

Brash ice pushing onto our original landing meant we headed down to the Errera side of the peak for pick up which completes a nice traverse of he peak

04/12/2022

Boom!

Leaving the Antarctic Peninsula and heading back towards Ushuaia in rising seas

23/11/2022

Currently 1/4 of the way across the Drake Passage with a following sea 5 m and 35 knots of wind. Clear skies and sunshine 🌞.

Manage your Garmin Explore or inReach account. With Explore and inReach, you can communicate, map, track, and share your trek from anywhere on Earth.

17/11/2022

Chilling out at French Ridge Hut with an afternoon coffee after wandering over from Colin Todd and Mt Aspiring

22/10/2022

Sitting up at Sefton Biv with what could basically be a party 🎉

Early morning nudge on the Footstool tomorrow

16/09/2022

I believe the correct term is …. Kapow!

Cold snow in September is pure gold. 30cm of pure lite n dry


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02/09/2022

Just finished up the new ski touring / ski mountaineering landing page

Back Country Ski Touring and Mountaineering in Wanaka New Zealand. Come and enjoy our amazing ski touring terrain.

31/08/2022

Fun day out today ❤️❄️

Mal Haskins Vertical Resources shared a post on Instagram: "Out for the end of August with the boss .boekholt and We went and played in the eastern end of the patch and where ski g a good 20-30 cm of cold lite powder on the South East aspects. New storm means full reset and it l...