Mountain Experience Course
"The MEC is a perfect coverage of a wide range of skills. Putting it all together in one course makes it easy to get a good feel for how they relate to each other." Jamie McCullough, March 2007.
The start of great mountain adventures
The Mountain Experience Course offers a perfect launching point for those whose imaginations have been captured by the lure of high mountain places. No prior knowledge of rope systems is required, just a good level of fitness and a background in trekking/tramping.
Who is the course for?
The MEC is for people who want to make their own forays above the snow line, and off the beaten trekking trails. You will learn all the basics of snow craft and mountaineering, as well as how to camp/bivvy in an alpine environment.
This is ideal training for high altitude trekking in Nepal/Tibet, or for alpine pass crossings and non-technical climbing anywhere in the world.
How it works...
The MEC's flexible format uses both the Mount Cook Village area and the superb venues of the surrounding mountains. After your initial few days grounding we take to the high mountains for the final 2 - 3 days of the course.
We supply all “technical” climbing equipment and food. The cost of the course is kept down by not relying on aircraft access.
Instruction topics include:
- Equipment - what to bring and how to use it
- Snow skills: including using crampons, ice axe and self arrest
- Avalanche awareness
- Map reading/navigation
- Weather forecasting
- Basic first aid
- Rope and rock climbing techniques
- Climbing on alpine snow, ice and rock
- Alpine camping/bivvying
- Awareness of terrain/route finding
| Course | Dates |
|---|---|
| MEC 1 | Nov 07 -13 |
| MEC 2 | Nov 21 - 27 |
| MEC 3 | Dec 05 - 11 |
| MEC 4 | Dec 12 - 18 |
| MEC 5 | Jan 09 - 15 |
| MEC 6 | Jan 23 - 29 |
| MEC 7 | Feb 06 - 12 |
| MEC 8 | Feb 20 -26 |
Courses span 7 days Sun-Sat
Check for available spaces ››
Price: NZ$1995 per person
Price from 01 October: NZ$2025 per person
Pricing includes:
All meals and snacks, accommodation, local transport, use of a range of technical gear, Alpine Guides Technical Manual.
Get Full Details Here
MEC notes ››
Pre-trip Information Notes ››
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Summer Course Options
Mountain Experience Course | Technical Mountaineering Course | TMC Tune-up | Women's Mountaineering Course | Advanced Alpine Skills | Objective:3000 | Technical Alpine Rock Course
See all Summer Guiding & Expeditions ››
Winter Guiding & Courses ››
From ice climbing and ski mountaineering to avalanche courses and ski touring.
Summer Courses and Guiding ››
Introductory to advanced climbing courses, guided ascents and expeditions on NZ's highest peaks.
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