Ski Touring.

Mt Larkins is a back country area that has no controlled slopes or snow grooming. All guests are welcome to visit Kelly Hut during winter however to make the most of this alpine snow playground guests would benefit from having at least some off-piste ski or boarding experience. We highly recommend taking a guided trip during winter as the skiable terrain traverses through low moderate and high hazard areas. Conditions change through out the winter season and our guides can update you on conditions and evaluate your skills and capabilities prior to you booking a date.

All Mountainhut guests need hard shell boots to visit the Hut during the winter months. If you are ski touring you will need specific ski touring boots and ski touring skiis fitted with ski touring bindings and skins cut to fit. Ski touring bindings allow the skier to free the heel and walk up hill or traverse suitable slopes and ridges to gain height with skins, that grip the snow, fitted to the ski. Once at the top the skier can then fix the ski touring binding and remove the skin then enjoy the ski descent back to the start again.
Snow boarders require a split board with fitted skins and can use their usual snow board boots or use snow shoes and poles while climbing.
Small Planet Queenstown works closely with Mountainhut to equip guests with quality ski touring and mountain safety equipment hire.

Mountainhut contracts NZMGA qualified guides during the winter ski touring season. All guided trips guests are then safe in the knowledge that snow safety and ski touring route finding is taken care of by a professional experienced guide. Mountainhut is an adventure activity provider and holds safety audit certification for snow shoeing, ski touring, snow caving, alpine hiking and heli biking. Mountainhut operations manager Dan Kelly, administration and staff continually strive to improve and update the mountainhut Safety Management System as required by Adventure Mark and the safety Audit standards.
Self guided groups are required to have a similar level of experience and snow safety qualifications held by each participant and they need to verify these with Mountainhut prior to any trip planning confirmation.

The closest coverage is Vodafone cell phone coverage at sunset rocks at the ridge above the hut. Whakaari has no dependable cell phone coverage over most of the terrain or trails so best factor that into your equipment choice. Take a PLB if you have one. Mountainhut.nz supplies an emergency kit for guided and self guided groups which includes PLB and Satellite phone.

Mountainhut.nz has the descretion to change or cancel any trip at any time. This could be due to adverse weather forcast, cloud, wind or snow melt effecting river flow on some trails.