Join us in the Canterbury backcountry of Mt Hutt and the Craigieburns for 4 days of learning and adventure.
Our Mountain Safety Council-accredited course will enable you to gain the skills and confidence needed to venture safely off the beaten path and into the backcountry.
The course will immerse you in an intensive backcountry experience under the tutelage of some of New Zealand’s leading mountain and ski guides.
This program is designed for people who have previously done a shorter course, have some experience, or want to update and refresh on the latest techniques.
After this course, you will be a knowledgeable member of a ski touring or climbing party, able to participate in information gathering, group discussion and decision-making.
You will be able to identify avalanche terrain and use this knowledge to plan your own trips into the backcountry.
We use the Mountain Safety Council Avalanche Skills Course 2 syllabus, topics include:
Information gathering, creating an avalanche forecast
Terrain analysis and route finding
Snowpack analysis, techniques to test for stability (or otherwise!)
Companion avalanche rescue
Decision-making and communication within your group
General mountain safety skills: equipment, movement, and trip planning
*Please provide your own transport. However, talk to your guide if this is a problem.
These courses are designed for those already with at least 4 days of backcountry experience (touring or split-boarding). To get the most from this program, we recommend a basic understanding of mountain weather and prior beacon practice.
Prerequisites
Preparation
MSC Certification
The Backcountry Course includes the syllabus for the NZ Mountain Safety Council Recreational Avalanche Course. On completion, we will provide you with a basic MSC certificate of completion.
Our course is aimed at the recreational backcountry traveller. Although not a formal qualification, it can be used to demonstrate a level of training and as a prerequisite to other courses.
Minimum Numbers
We need at least 2 participants to run the course. If we can't make the minimums, you've got options: a full refund, a change to a different date, or a bespoke 1:1 session with a tailored fee. We’ll keep you posted well ahead of time so you can plan accordingly.
Looking for a personalised experience?
Make it private for a flexible schedule, customised objectives, and one-on-one time with your guide.
