Partners

In 2006, Adventure Consultants, based in Wanaka, New Zealand, and the American Alpine Institute, headquartered in Bellingham, Washington, USA, were pleased to announce their formation of a worldwide alliance.

Over the years the owners of both organisations - Dunham Gooding from AAI and Guy Cotter from AC - have regularly discussed ways to strengthen both

organizations by working together, sharing expert guides, and utilizing the special areas of expertise that each company had developed over three decades of work. While both companies were recognized internationally as leaders in the field of mountain guiding, both Guy and Dunham feel that both companies are now even stronger because of the alliance.

The cooperative efforts of these two companies offer direct and tangible benefits to climbers. Together they offer the world's most comprehensive array of instructional programs, guided ascents, and expeditions. In every category of climbing, from instruction to expeditions, trips are offered at every skill level. Additionally, this spectrum of climbing opportunities is offered on every continent. Once you climb with us, wherever in the world you want to climb in the future, you will have the comfort and assurance of dealing with an organization you already know and trust.

Because of this alliance, climbers who come to either company have ample opportunity to learn climbing skills or join an expedition from anywhere in the world, in any season. With the two companies based in opposite hemispheres and each operating throughout the world, your choices in terms of both timing and location are nearly limitless.

Now you might ask yourself, "If I want to call AC, do I call AAI or vice versa? Can I sign up for trips for one with the other?" The answers are a resounding "yes!"

Our admissions departments maintain daily contact in regard to trip requests, registrations, and climber preparations. What does this mean for you? Let's say you climb Mt. Baker, Rainier, or Whitney one summer with AAI, have a wonderful time, and decide that you would like to climb something higher. You call AAI and ask about options. Depending on what your "next step" will be (driven by your skill level, interests, and schedule), we will then offer you options that may direct you to an alliance trip that is run by AAI or AC.

If you'll be joining an AC trip, all preparations will be handled by AC's Wanaka, New Zealand office. If it is an AAI trip, we will alert the AAI office in Bellingham about our discussions and your choice of a trip and have them contact you. AAI will know about your background, how your last trip went, your skill level, and your current plan for a next program. AAI and AC will work together to assure that you are well taken care of and that all your planning and preparation goes smoothly, and that everything is in place to help you achieve your goals.

This is a three-way alliance that you will be joining: AAI, AC, and you. We will assure that from your first phone call or email to us, to the flight home from your course or expedition, you feel supported, encouraged, perfectly prepared, and successful in the pursuit of your goals.

Join our alliance and let's head to the mountains!

Best Regards,

Guy Cotter, Director Adventure Consultants

Dunham Gooding, Director American Alpine Institute

In 2011, Adventure Consultants and The North Face entered into a strategic partnership wherein The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, agreed to supply Adventure Consultants' guides and staff with the outdoor clothing, equipment and accessories they need to face the conditions often met in the most inhospitable places on Earth.

In return Adventure Consultants guides, staff and clients will provide product feedback which will be incorporated into product design, ensuring The North Face products remain the most authentic and technically innovative in the market.

Sydney, Australia (Friday, 21 Oct, 2011) – The North Face, the world’s premier supplier of authentic, innovative and technically advanced outdoor apparel, equipment and footwear, is pleased to announce today a strategic partnership with world-renowned mountain guiding company, Adventure Consultants.

Based in Wanaka, New Zealand, Adventure Consultants a global leader in the field of mountain guiding service operations currently offer a total of 58 expeditions, treks and wilderness journeys to the world’s highest peaks and the most remote corners of the globe in addition to climbing schools established in New Zealand and Europe.

Both The North Face and Adventure Consultants were born from the passions held by their founders for climbing mountains and exploring the world’s most remote places. This shared passion is at the centre of the partnership and forms the foundation upon which both companies will to continue their mission of inspiring and enabling exploration.

“I bought my very first fleece jacket from the original North Face store in Berkeley when I was living in California as a full time climber in 1982. The North Face label is synonymous with mountaineering and I think it’s a great fit having our two internationally recognised brands working together now. The underlying philosophy of both companies is geared towards excellent performance in the outdoors so we’re happy to be aligned and comfortable in the knowledge that our guiding staff will be out there in the very best gear” said Adventure Consultants CEO Guy Cotter.

As part of the new partnership, The North Face will supply Adventure Consultants’ guides and staff with the outdoor clothing, equipment and accessories they need to face the conditions often met in the most inhospitable places on Earth. Equipped with the world’s premier brand of outdoor clothing and equipment, Adventure Consultants’ team of professional IFMGA and NZMGA guides will now be positioned to take their guiding and service offering to the next level, ensuring the best outcomes for their clients possible.

“Having a company such as Adventure Consultant’s confident in choosing The North Face gear for its team of guides, staff and clients is a testament to its quality. In much of the same way we do for our team of athletes, the product feedback that is provided to us by the guides and staff of Adventure Consultants will be incorporated into product design, ensuring our products remain the most authentic and technically innovative in the market. We look forward to embarking on this journey with Guy and his team and believe it will be a mutually beneficial partnership for years to come,” said The North Face marketing manager Stephen Winnacott.

We proudly use the following equipment on our expeditions:

North Face, Australia & New Zealand
Bogong Equipment, Melbourne
Mountain Equipment, Sydney
Mainpeak, Perth
Paddy Palin, Australia
Ravanel & Co, Chamonix
El Refugio, Ciudad, Mendoza
Mt Outdoors, Wanaka

We are proudly affiliated with:

Our vision for sustainability encompasses protecting, enhancing and restoring the natural environment in which we work and live, and also extends to the economic and social prosperity of those communities we're involved with, from the slopes of Kilimanjaro to the mountains of Nepal and New Zealand. At Adventure Consultants we aim to be a leader in providing Sustainable Tourism, as part of this we have joined the New Zealand Tourism Sustainability Commitment, committing to sustainability by 2025.

To deliver on this, we must achieve ambitious economic goals while sharing the overwhelming benefits with supportive host communities, contributing to restoring, protecting and enhancing our natural environment, and continuing to deliver high quality visitor experiences.

Take your fitness preparations to the next level with simulated high altitude training prior to your expedition or trekking adventure. The New Zealand Altitude Training Centre is based in Auckland, and offer a free no obligation introductory session. 

Discover the scientifically proven health and performance benefits of training in a simulated high altitude environment. Centrally located in Christchurch, Vertex Altitude is an ideal training venue for our Southern New Zealand based clients. 

A superb range of books and calendars including the definitive history of the first five years of Adventure Consutlants 'Hall and Ball - Kiwi Mountaineers, from Mt Cook to Everest' by Colin Monteath can be sourced from Hedgehog House.

The Adventurous Traveler Bookstore has a great selection of outdoor and mountaineering books. 

MountEverest.net
Explorers Web
Climbing Magazine, USA
Rock and Ice Magazine, USA
Web Crag

Adventure Consultants own Sherpa Future Fund operates to support those families of AC Sherpas who lost their lives in the 2014 Khumbu Icefall Avalanche and the 2015 Nepal Earthquake. As a means to raise money for the Sherpa Future Fund we are offering the unique opportunity to purchase a number of beautifully presented replicas of Sir Edmund Hillary’s ice axe that he personally signed. See our Sir Edmund Hillary Ice Axe page for more information.

Other organisations we wholeheartedly support:

Adventure Consultants adhere to Leave No Trace guidelines and principles. 

The dZi Foundation is an organisation that is helping Nepalese orphans receive schooling and ongoing opportunities

IMEC is the International Mountain Explorers Connection whose Porter Assistance Projects are making a big difference in Nepal and Tanzania 

Room to Read is making fantastic progress building schools throughout the Himalaya  

Inspired Escapes allows you to give back as you travel 

General
The definitive source for all activities, accommodation and services at Lake Wanaka, New Zealand, can be found at www.lakewanaka.co.nz


Accommodation

Great places to stay and activities in the Southern Lakes District, Wanaka / Queenstown that we recommend are:

• Mountain View Backpackers
• Matterhorn South Lodge and Backpackers
• Release Private Retreat
• Edgewater Resort
• Oakridge Mercure Resort
• Brookvale Manor Motel
• Clearbrook Motel
• Te Wanaka Lodge
• Lakeside Apartments
• Wanaka Homestead
• Minaret Lodge
• Wanaka Kiwi Holiday Park

Activities

• Aspiring Helicopters for scenic flights
• Flights to Milford Sound with Wanaka Flightseeing
• Heliworks in Queenstown for scenic flights
• Wild Wire Twin Falls Via Ferrata
• Ultimate Hikes in Queenstown for the Milford and Routeburn tracks
• River Journeys for fantastic jetboating on the Matukituki River
• Basecamp Wanaka for indoor climbing
• Check out our favourite ski resorts Cardrona and Treble Cone or for cross country skiing, Snowfarm

Some other excellent activities around the South Island of New Zealand are:

• Adventure South - cycling and hiking tours of New Zealand
• Hiking New Zealand - small group hiking tours of New Zealand
• Check out the New Zealand Escape site for details on activities, accommodation and transport throughout the South Island
• Excellent itineraries for touring around the best of New Zealand from NZ Fine Tours
• The New Zealand Information Network website has a wealth of information with a searchable database

In the North Island of New Zealand, a great option is:

• Walking Legends for the Tongariro Crossing, a beautiful and famous walk through New Zealand's volcanic plateau

ex North America - Dana Welch at The Travel Society in Denver, Colorado, USA

ex New Zealand - Richard and Debbie Bradford at New Zealand Travel Brokers in Cromwell, New Zealand

• We recommend The Travel Doctor for checking your medical and immunisation requirements before travelling to remote areas.
• Check out Topomap for a very cool look at how to get around New Zealand.
• For news, courses, information and blogs on adventure and wilderness medicine. Check out the Adventure Medic.