- P1
The Darwin and Bonney Glaciers are good for a day’s fun. At least this tour begins with a downhill ski run to Darwin Corner, rather than a climb on skins! In winter and spring, the Darwin is shaded through most of the day and hence keeps it’s powder for longer. It’s less than an hour’s climb up to the head of the Darwin, so there’s time in the day for a few runs. Mount Hamilton is an option for the experts, ascended from the basin underneath Mt Haeckel via the small saddle near point 2633. The Bonney Glacier is a branch of the Darwin. It’s possible to wend your way up through the crevasses in around two hours, from the Darwin/Bonney junction to the upper basin of the Bonney. Progress is usually best on the true left. The Fyfe’s Couloir climbing route on Mt Malte Brun (3199m) can be accessed from there. Consult Alex Palman’s Aoraki/Mount Cook Guidebook for route information. The Turnbull Glacier is a hidden gem of the Mt Cook region, accessed from the upper Bonney, and a good challenging ski descent 900 vertical metres back down to the floor of the Tasman Glacier. Getting off the moraine wall of the Tasman can be a problem, so scope out the route from the bottom before skiing down.