Winter Mountain Skills Course
Winter Mountain Skills is a 4-day winter travel and survival skills course for hikers and "trampers". It is ideal for fit people with outdoor experience who want to learn to travel safely on foot above the snowline in winter.
Course Objectives - Making the Right Decisions
This is not a "climbing course". Winter Mountain Skills focuses on snow-shelter construction, avalanche awareness, route finding, avoiding hypothermia, and travel using snowshoes and/or crampons and ice axe. All instruction takes place in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park or local mountain venues. Road transport is provided as required.
Instruction topics include:
- Snow shelter construction
- Travel on foot with snowshoes/crampons and axe
- Route selection
- Intro to snow safety/avalanche rescue
- Mountain weather and navigation
Experience required:
- Good level of fitness
- Hiking/backpacking experience
- Mountaineering experience not required
| Course | Dates |
|---|---|
| WMS 1 | July 17-20 |
| WMS 2 | Aug/Sept 30-02 |
| WMS 3 | Sept 13-16 |
Courses run over 4 days, Saturday - Tuesday.
Check for available spaces ››
2010 Details
Price: NZ$1350 per person
4-day course price includes:
All meals and snacks, aircraft access, accommodation, local transport, use of technical equipment, Alpine Guides Technical Manual.
Download Full Details Here (Adobe.pdf format)
Winter Mountain Skills Course (540 Kb)
Pre-trip Information notes (700 Kb)
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Winter Course Options
Backcountry Avalanche Course | Ice Climbing Experience | Ski Mountaineering Course | Winter Mountain Skills Course
Winter Mountain Guiding Options
Alpine Ski Touring | Arrowsmith Range Ski Touring | Private Instruction & Guiding | Ascents Program
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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