About Us

Ben Dare:

Ben is originally from the Coromandel Peninsula, and after spending the bulk of his youth on the beach far from the mountains, he first began to take a real interest in climbing while studying Engineering at the University of Auckland. While in Auckland he took the initiative to become a self-taught mountaineer, and after acquiring a pair of crampons and ice axes he began heading south to Mt Ruapehu to teach himself the basics. Gradually the trips away became more frequent and further afield and when the opportunity to relocate to Queenstown in 2008 arose it was gladly accepted.

Ben climbing steep mixed ground in The Remarkables range behind Queenstown.

 The move South offered Ben the chance to develop his technical climbing skills on a range of ice, mixed and rock routes in the Queenstown and Wanaka regions as well as in the greater ranges of the Southern Alps. This has lead to, and helped develop, a desire to explore and attempt new long technical and committing alpine routes.

Ben on the summit ice cap of Mt Tutoko after climbing a new route on the South face with Guy Mckinnon

 During his time in Queenstown Ben has able to benefit from two eventful seasons winter mixed and ice climbing in The Remarkables. With numerous ascents of technical “traditional” mixed routes, including first ascents of a number of routes on the South and West faces of Single Cone. In addition to first ascents of muliti-pitch rock routes on the South-West and South faces of Single Cone during the dryer summer months.

Ben (left) below the South face of Mt Barnicoat after completing the second ascent of “Lust for Life” with Allan Uren.

It has also provided the opportunity to climb further afield and he has enjoyed a number of alpine climbing highlights throughout the South Island. Which include first ascents of new routes on the South and West Faces of Mt Earnslaw, the West Face of The Remarkables, the South Face of Mt Tutoku and the South Face of Malte Brun. As well a number of classic alpine routes including the South Face and Coxcomb Ridge of Mt Aspiring and the South Face of Mt Barnicoat.

Tracks in the snow after a solo ascent of the South face and Coxcomb ridge of Mt Aspiring

 This will be Ben’s first climbing expedition abroad and is a natural progression of his desire to test himself new technical alpine routes.

Steven Fortune:

Steven grew up in Te Anau, having adventures in the rivers and hills of Fiordland from a young age. He didn't start climbing until at University, when surrounded by like minded people, he had a 'traditional' apprenticeship of transalpine tramping, winter hills in Arthurs Pass, moving onto the bigger scarier mountains of Aspiring and Mount Cook Range.

Steven on Empress Shelf of Aoraki/Mt Cook after climbing the Hooker Face. Mt Sefton behind.

 After Uni, Steven moved to Edinburgh, Scotland, working as a Postdoc researcher in medical imaging. Living in Scotland allowed him to develop his technical climbing on rock, ice and mostly the traditional mixed climbing Scotland is most famous for.

Steven climbing runout, steep, rime covered rock in the Cairngorms, Scotland. (Credit wintersun)

Also very accessible from Scotland is the European Alps, Steven climbing the North Face of Grandes Jorasses twice, plus accessible valley ice cragging on which you can push your skills.

Steven climbing steep ice on Repentence Super, Cogne. (Credit wintersun)

In 2009, Steven went on a trip to the big mountains of Kahiltna, Alaska with friends from Scotland. They climbed the North Butress of Mt Hunter, one of the best hard alpine routes in the world!

Steven on Tamara's traverse, North Buttress Mt Hunter, Alaska.

Mike Rowe:


Mike is a NZMGA Trainee climber guide and is extremely enthusiastic about spending time in the mountains. He enjoys this time in a number of different disciplines: Ski touring, Snow kiting, Rock climbing, Ice Climbing and general mountaineering. Mike has climbed extensively in the Southern Alps over the past five years as well as abroad.

Climbing highlights:

• First ascent of new routes on the West Face of The Remarkables (MC grade 4) and the South Face of Malte Brun (MC grade 4+). In addition to several classic alpine climbs including the South Face of Douglas peak (MC grade 5+), South Face of Mt Cook (MC Grade 5), and Balfour Face of Tasman (MC grade 5). 
•  Over 60 days rock climbing at Australia's Mt Arapiles in the past two years.
• 2007 expedition to the Peruvian and Bolivian Andes, climbing a number of 6000m peaks including ascents of Alpamayo (5,947m) and Chopicalqui (6,354m). 
• Mike has made numerous trips to Wye creek to climb waterfall ice up to WI 5. Ski touring on both sides of the divide has given Mike the experience to back up his avalanche qualification. He recently skied the NW face of the Minarets.