mountain experience Course (mec)
Difficulty
Duration
5 Days
Season
October to April
Gearlist
PRICE $2,475 NZD
The Mountain Experience Course (MEC) is Alpine Guides' introductory level mountaineering course. A perfect starting point for people developing an interest in the high mountains and in travelling and camping above the snow line.
All the “technical” climbing equipment is supplied and the cost of the course is kept down by not relying on aircraft access. Apart from the great outdoor learning experience, we aim to climb at least one peak or cross an alpine pass, or both.
One of the strengths of the MEC is its extremely flexible structure. The MEC uses the Mount Cook Village area and numerous exciting locations in the surrounding area. Every course will be unique, as we choose the mountain venue depending on the weather and snow conditions at the time.
Learnings & Outcomes
The Mountain Experience Course is ideal:
For people with a background in hiking/tramping/bushwalking.
No prior knowledge of rope systems or climbing is required.
What you will learn
The safe enjoyment of the mountain environment depends upon good judgment, technique, and equipment. Our professional IFMGA/NZMGA guides will help you develop skills through the practice of climbing on snow, ice, and rock, plus spending time in the high alpine environment.
Course topics include:
Equipment, what to bring, and how to use it
Alpine camping/bivvying/snow shelters (if conditions allow)
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
Awareness of terrain/route finding
Depending on the course venue some glacier travel may be involved - along with relevant instruction.
Outcomes - what comes next?
By the end of the course, you should:
Be capable of using crampons and ice axe and be competent at self-arresting
Understand how to pack your backpack and what gear to carry
Be able to camp above the snow line/construct a bivvy
Be confident on uneven/loose alpine terrain
Have basic rock climbing/rope skills
Be able to cross alpine passes/climb moderate peaks with confidence
Be ready for a more advanced mountaineering course, like our Alpine Skills Course (ASC)
Schedule and Specifics
Price: NZ$2,475 per person
What’s Included
Professional NZMGA/IFMGA mountain guide on a 1:4 basis
All meals and snacks from dinner day 1 to lunch day 5
Hut fees and National Park fees
Local transport
4 Nights Accommodation
Wide selection of free technical equipment
2024/25 Summer Schedule
| Course | Dates |
|---|---|
| MEC 1 | 28 Oct - 01 Nov |
| MEC 2 | 11 - 15 Nov |
| MEC 3 | Closed |
| MEC 4 | 02 - 06 Dec |
| MEC 5 | 16 - 20 Dec |
| MEC 6 | 06 - 10 Jan |
| MEC 7 | 20 - 24 Jan |
| MEC 8 | 10 - 14 Feb |
All courses start at 08:30 AM on day one and finish at 5:00 PM on the final day.
Check-in at Alpine Guides office in Mount Cook Village.
Please read our booking Terms and Conditions.
Maximum and Minimum Bookings
Maximum Bookings: All courses have a maximum of 8 participants. The maximum guide-to-client ratio is 1 to 4.
Minimum Bookings: We require at least 2 participants to run this course.
2 people only: We run the course, but shorten the trip to 4 full days
We believe that shortening courses with low numbers, rather than canceling them is the best service we can offer. This minimises any effects on your travel plans and still provides a great mountaineering experience.
Smaller teams can cover instruction topics more quickly and efficiently than a larger group.
If your course is shortened, we will advise you as soon as possible in advance of the start date.
Private Courses
Private courses can be arranged at any time from October, through March, for one or more people. A private course allows you to choose the dates and duration, and tailor the content to your specific requirements.
NZAC Discount
New Zealand Alpine Club Members can receive a 10% discount on this course.
Check with us before booking, with your membership number, and we can supply a promo code.
ExperiEnce
The most important prerequisite is a high level of aerobic fitness. The MEC is not about classroom lectures but getting "out there" and gaining knowledge of the alpine environment by "doing it".
With all travel being on foot, the ability to carry a moderately-sized backpack (for several hours) is required. A background in bushwalking/trekking is ideal. Previous alpine climbing, or rock climbing experience, is not required.
You must be able to continuously carry a pack of up to 15kg for 4-5 hours
You must be comfortable on uneven terrain
Itinerary - COurse Structure
Dynamic mountain weather makes fixed itineraries impractical. The MEC is designed to work around changeable weather and snow conditions.
The MEC is split into two main parts:
1. Village Section
Introduction to the area and plans for the week
Equipment - what to use, how to pack for the mountains
Climbing Mt Sebastopol: moving on loose terrain, scree slopes, ridge travel
A day of rock climbing instruction, including rope handling skills, abseiling and learning basic knots and hitches.
2. Alpine Section
The MEC’s alpine venues include Mueller Hut, Mount Barth, Ball Pass, Sefton Bivouac, Twin Streams, Whale Stream and Barron Saddle, amongst others. These areas provide a range of alpine terrain and opportunities to train and climb peaks on snow, ice and rock.
Most locations are either within walking distance or can be walked into after a short drive from Mount Cook Village.
Mueller Hut area - allows access to the Annette Plateau, with peaks like Annette (2,235 metres) and Mount Sealy (2,557 metres) close by.
Ball Pass - Cross the classic alpine route from Tasman to Hooker Valley. Climb Mount Rosa (2,161 metres) or Mount Turner Peak (2,338 metres).
Barron Saddle - A remote mountain venue at the head of the Mueller Glacier.
Twin Streams - In the Ben Ohau range is renowned for great alpine rock and allows access to peaks like Mount Dark (2,496 metres).
Whale Stream - Also in the Ben Ohaus, offers a great mix of hiking, rock climbing, scrambling and long ridges.
Mount Barth - A glaciated peak (2,456 metres) in the Ahuriri Valley, just over one hour south of Mount Cook. This offers a great location for snowcraft, bivvying and ridge travel.
During the course, we will include map reading and navigation topics, study mountain weather and look at basic snow safety and avalanche awareness. Each day’s activities can have you out and about for at least 8 hours.
On any nights not based at a hut, you will be creating a campsite. This can be as few as one, or up to 3 nights. This may be a tent or a bivouac.
For bivvying in the mountains you need:
A good quality sleeping pad (supplied - or bring your own)
A sleeping bag and sometimes (but not always) a bivvy bag.
Modern 3-season sleeping bags with breathable water-resistant shells are ideal for alpine camping in fine weather. They can eliminate the need for a further layer (a bivvy bag).
We supply tents and bivouac bags if required.
If camping we provide cooking stoves, fuel and eating utensils. Each person will be expected to carry a share of food and cooking equipment and to assist with preparing meals.
Snow Cover Variation
MECs use locations over a range of altitudes (750 to 2,100 metres). At these elevations, there is a mix of permanent and seasonal snow. The amount of snow cover and depth you encounter will vary with the course venue, the time of year and any major prevalent weather patterns (like La Nina/El Nino).
"Early Season" October to mid-December
Expect snow underfoot, from approx. 1,600 metres.
There will be less exposed rock.
Less distance to travel to reach snow instruction venues.
Less exposed hard ice.
Aircraft And HUts
Aircraft Use
When conditions allow, helicopters may be used to access more remote or exceptional venues. This is more common from late December onwards.
Locations are, for example, Barron Saddle, Whale Stream, and Twin Stream. These areas are all possible to walk out from within the course dates.
In rare situations, your guide may advise that a flight out is required. This will be an additional charge. Typically around $350 per person.
Your guide will fully discuss the potential venues and implications of walking/flying into the mountains at the start of the course.
A 25% deposit is required to secure your booking
More trip ideas
Alpine Skills Course
Himalayan Climbing Course
Tasman Glacier Ice Adventure
