Heading up the Tasman Glacier is best via an airplane or a helicopter. While you may be a purist and want to hike in this is a brutal trip filled with moraine bashing and expect your gear to be destroyed by the time you get up there. Leaving from the Mount Cook Airport enjoy the scenic views of Mount Cook National Park finally reaching the Upper Tasman Glacier. You have two options for accommodations being the Tasman Saddle Hut or the Kelman Hut, while both are nice you just can’t beat the view of the Kelman Hut.

Arriving on the upper Glacier make your way to the Kelman Hut and make sure to be around for the nighttime forecast which is provided by Mount Cook national Park via the radio. Start early morning by riding down the Tasman Glacier all the way to 1660 meters where a valley opens to the skiers left. Now it is time to put on the skins and start ascending up the semi flat Darwin Glacier. Before long you will have another glacial lobe on your right which is the Bonney Glacier and your next section to climb. Making your way up make sure to stay in the middle as this is the least crevassed section. Before long you will be at the base of Malte Brun where you will spot a low col just to the west. Once there head North an additional 100 meters and you will be on the summit of Rumdoodle.

Standing on the summit is a stunning experience looking west at glaciers barely holding onto the mountains. When it is time to ski just retrace your ascent route all the way back down to the Tasman Glacier where you have a long climb ahead of you to get back to the Kelman Hut. After an already long day this is a semi brutal slog so mach sure to have enough food and water to make it enjoyable. Before long you will be back at the shelter and happy that you decided to head out on this ski tour.

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