A+ Highly recommend
As my professional filming with Alpine Guides continued, friendships grew and I really appreciate the hospitality and amazing time in the mountains learning from everyone at the outfit. They are a great group of people, down to earth and incredible professional and approachable.
I had the opportunity first to work with Alpine Guides NZ, filming a short video commercial for their Tasman Glacier Heli Hike Tour. Man was it amazing. Smooth sign in and load up in the heli. INCREDIBLE SCENERY on the flight. Braided river, Lake Pukaki, Mount Cook, peaks as far as you can see and flying fast - facing down the dramatic chasms of the Tasman Glacier. This was the first time I worked with Tai and Pablo and while on the ice, they were the perfect guides.
Tai and I really clicked and linked up again to film the alpine skills course they offer, which is an amazing investment for someone looking to venture into steeper rock, route finding, or snow and glacier travel. The course was incredible and well structured. The amount that you learn and practice in the 5 days is top! The climbing, anchor building, rescue, and travel techniques on both rock climbing and glacier was the perfect stepping stone for when I partnered with Alpine Guides one last time before I left New Zealand, now as a customer to hike Tititea with Taichiro. Not only is he a great guide, but Tai is just a great person to spend time with in the mountains. He and I really enjoy talking about filming and photography or story telling which is a bonus. But as a hiking partner, he is incredibly knowledgable, he solves problems, is thoughtful, doesn’t talk too much or too little, enjoys good food and early mornings and is positive and matter of fact. I’ll cherish the memories of hiking up Tititea with Tai over 3 days at the end of January 2022. Tititea was a flawless trip through and through and an amazing investment. The trip is one on one with a guide and we moved between crampons and rock, some cams or quick belay anchors. And on the summit day could see all the way to the west coast and even mount Aoraki.
Thanks for all of the coordination and amazing guiding and instruction Mark, Arthur, Kevin, Pablo, Jamie, and my brotha Taichiro! Thank you for your friendship Tai and all the best until I see you and your family again!