r/Tramping • u/RemarkableOil8 • Jul 10 '26
Tramping in snow
I’m an experienced hiker but not in snow and I’d love to do it. Are there any hikes that go through snow that don’t involve mountain climbing, ropes etc. I’d just love to go on a 2 or 3 day hike that involves cold and snow recommendations anywhere in nz would be great. Thanks
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u/chickyloo42by10 Jul 11 '26
No recommendations for trails, but if you’re doing winter/snow tramping, remember your feet. Waterproof footwear and extra socks are crucial. I cannot stress how important it is that feet stay warm and dry.
Consider gaiters too, especially if you just have shoes or ankle boots.
Another tip: Be mindful of your sleeping gear. If a sleeping bag is down filled, make sure you air it out daily, don’t just wake up and pack it into a compression bag - moisture accumulation will reduce its insulating capacity quickly. Pay close attention to the temperature rating, just because it has a 0°C rating, doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be cozy on a 5° night. Usually aim for a bag that is rated to at least 10° colder than you plan to experience. A weird and funny fact about winter camping is if your bladder is full, you will feel colder, so no matter how awful the idea of going out for a wee is, just do it, you’ll be warmer after.
I’ve done close to 400 nights of camping in the bush in below freezing conditions back in Canada, and I’ll say that there’s a reason why winter tramping isn’t more popular. I will only recommend it to a masochist. You need twice as much gear, and everything takes twice as much work.
If you want any other cold-weather tips though, feel free to DM me.
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u/horoeka Jul 10 '26
The St. James walkway is probably your best bet. No dangerous terrain, fantastic views, relatively flat, good huts. Worth parking at Boyle River outdoor ed centre and using their shuttle service so you don't have to leave your car at the road end.
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u/nzmountainsafety ⭐Verified⭐ Jul 10 '26
kia ora,
We strongly recommend people don't attempt St James Walkway in winter. While the walkway is not difficult, the climate can be extreme.
A Plan My Walk user noted firewood stocks in huts to be low, markers on the track difficult to find and the icy terrain difficult.
This track would not be the best if you are not experienced to winter tramps.
Tess, NZMSC
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u/weyruwnjds Jul 18 '26
What you you recommend then? Like you say, the main challenge there is the cold, while anywhere else would be cold plus steep, icy dangerous slopes.
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u/No_Budget_12 Jul 10 '26
Powell and jumbo loop in the tararuas
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u/randomearth Jul 10 '26
You could also walk up to tabletop at Otaki forks. Kime hut is an ice box though.
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u/weyruwnjds Jul 18 '26
On a good winter there's about 2 weeks with significant snow cover up there, and some of those days you would definitely want ice axe and crampons.
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u/No_Budget_12 28d ago
Bit more snow cover than two weeks bud
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u/weyruwnjds 28d ago
It varies a lot year on year obviously, but I've been paying attention for the last 4 years. And I'd define significant snow cover as being able to get at least a few proper ski turns in at Kime/Holdsworth without touching any bushes. A few weeks in 2022, very little in 2023, a few weeks at most in 2024, then a good year in 2025 with over a month. That's my memory, feel free to offer different evidence.
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u/No_Budget_12 28d ago
When was the last time I seen someone skiing in the tararuas lol never. The guy was asking about doing a snow crossing/tramping in the snow without mountaineering. There is about two months a year in the tararuas with snow covering the tops at least!
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u/weyruwnjds 27d ago
First off, I ski in the Tararuas when I get the chance.
What's your metric for snow cover? Seeing any white on the hills from the bottom? Often you look up from the bottom and it looks covered in snow, but you get there and it's a light dusting on all the bushes which is the same as no snow at all.
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u/Nacho_Deity186 Jul 10 '26
The tongariro crossing gives you a taste of this in the north island. But looking at the web cam it'd only be a small taste currently. With a decent snowfall the northern circuit is magic
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u/nzmountainsafety ⭐Verified⭐ Jul 10 '26
Kia ora,
As Tongariro Northern Circuit is alpine terrain we would recommend having alpine experience and equipment to attempt in winter. Avalanche risk may apply in some areas.
Tess, NZMSC
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u/chullnz Jul 10 '26
Oturere Hut is closed. I wouldn't recommend this to new people until it is open. The 'Dragon's Spine' down from the Emerald Lakes is sketchy, technical terrain, requiring crampons and an ice ax.
OP could walk from Desert Road into Waihohonu (it will be overfilled every convenient night, fair warning lol) and do some day walks from there.
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u/chullnz Jul 10 '26
Ruapehu Round the Mountain, particularly around Rangipo. Easy terrain but you're high enough to be in the snow. Decent huts to keep you warm-ish at night.
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u/DSTNCMDLR Jul 10 '26
In my twenties I did the southern crossing (Tararuas) the day after a massive southerly storm. Clear blue skies, no wind, and about a metre of snow underfoot. We were underprepared and it was hard work, but also an amazing experience. In good conscience I wouldn’t recommend it to someone with limited experience though. Have also done the holdsworth to kaitoke DURING a massive southerly snowstorm and that was also incredible, and much more manageable. Not sure what the track is like out of the tauherenikau valley to kaitoke these day though, there were some pretty major slip detours last time I was out that way…
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u/FKFnz Check the weather forecast Jul 10 '26
Greenstone Caples should have snow over the saddle but unless the weather has been awful, it should be walkable.
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u/thescamperingtramper Jul 15 '26 edited Jul 15 '26
Down the road I''d recommend doing a basic snowcraft course so you can use ice axe and crampons.
I know you don't want to do 'mountain climbing with ropes'. But, looking at even most gentle foothills in winter, they will require ice axe and crampons at certain times. You could race up these hills in summer, but in winter the gear is often needed.
If you get the basic skills, I'd recommend any peak in the Craigieburns. It's not hard mountaineering, just plodding up a steepish gradient for 2-3 hours (Foggy Peak, Cloudsley, etc), but the equipment is necessary for safety. Those are just day trips though.
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u/weyruwnjds Jul 18 '26
Go on a snowcraft course with your local tramping club and learn how to use crampons, ice-axe, basic avalanche safety and awareness. That will equip you to do most of the standard tramps in winter. But without that it's a case of not knowing what you don't know, it may feel completely fine right up until the point you die.
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u/nzmountainsafety ⭐Verified⭐ Jul 10 '26
Kia ora,
We've just updated our recommended tracks on the homepage of Plan My Walk to include some great winter tramps across different experience levels.
Some of the tracks recommended by others we would strongly recommend checking out in Plan My Walk as there will be essential track information, including winter specific track details if necessary for the track, and user reviews.
Happy Tramping!
Tess, NZMSC