Technical Mountaineering Course - New Zealand

Location:	Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park (Mount Cook - New Zealand)

Item:	TE12145CH

Price:	$3,250

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This course is designed as a complete introduction to climbing, living, and surviving in the mountains. The TMC will provide a kick-start to your own climbing exploits. All instruction will take place in the serious mountain environment of the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, although the course is flexible enough to move elsewhere for a few days should the weather become inhospitable. The skills you acquire on this course will take you readily into any other mountain range in the world. The TMC will strike a balance between the instruction of techniques and practical application in realistic situations. The emphasis of the course is on education, travel on and awareness of all types of mountain terrain, rather than on purely technical climbing. We believe this is the most important element in your “mountain education”. You can expect to summit 2 or 3 peaks, (progressively more technical summits) building on your knowledge as you apply this to practical situations. Aircraft access will be used to optimise the time available. This also allows us to gain exceptionally good instructional venues (for example, Tasman Saddle, Murchison nevé, Franz Josef nevé) and to reduce heavy load carrying. Each day’s activities will usually run for 8-10 hours, although longer more strenuous days may be involved depending on the climbs undertaken. The safe enjoyment of the mountain environment depends to a large measure upon good judgement, technique and equipment. The guides will help you develop these skills.

The topics covered on your course will include:

Equipment, what to bring and how to use it
Trip planning and preparation
Knots and hitches
Mountain weather and forecasting
Glacier travel and Crevasse Rescue
Snow and Ice Climbing
Belay techniques and systems
Snow, ice and rock anchors
Abseiling
Alpine rock
Rope techniques
Avalanche hazard evaluation
Route finding
First aid for mountaineering
Mountain navigation
Emergency shelters and procedures
Hut management, food preparation, cooking
Step and stance cutting
You will also learn about your own capabilities and your own ability to live in the mountains and to accept their ever changing conditions.

intensity: 5.0

Next Available Dates

10 Feb 12 (Friday)	Places

11 Feb 12 (Saturday)	Places

12 Feb 12 (Sunday)	Places

13 Feb 12 (Monday)	Places

14 Feb 12 (Tuesday)	Places

15 Feb 12 (Wednesday)	Places

16 Feb 12 (Thursday)	Places

17 Feb 12 (Friday)	Places

18 Feb 12 (Saturday)	Places

19 Feb 12 (Sunday)	Places

20 Feb 12 (Monday)	Places

21 Feb 12 (Tuesday)	Places

22 Feb 12 (Wednesday)	Places

23 Feb 12 (Thursday)	Places

24 Feb 12 (Friday)	Places

25 Feb 12 (Saturday)	Places

26 Feb 12 (Sunday)	Places

27 Feb 12 (Monday)	Places

28 Feb 12 (Tuesday)	Places

29 Feb 12 (Wednesday)	Places

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Experience Details

Fitness and Experience

Prior alpine (snow and ice) mountaineering experience is not required to participate on a TMC
Apart from being enthusiastic and keen to learn new skills, the most important prerequisite is a high level of aerobic fitness
Previous bushwalking/trekking experience is also desirable, as you will carry a light pack on most days and a heavy pack over 1- 2 (long) days if walking out of the mountains
The TMC involves learning rope skills, and some more complex pulley systems
Without prior rope-handling experience the course will present a steep learning curve
It is expected that all participants have some basic rockclimbing skills (although not necessarily to a high standard)
You should be able to climb basic rock, or have rope skills (from caving, or rescue work), know some knots, and be familiar with roping into a harness
We can advise you of weekend rock climbing (or indoor) courses that will provide this basic experience
Most of the participants on the TMC have designs to progress on to undertaking their own (unguided) climbing trips
If your interests in the course are more as a one-off experience, we recommend instead that you consider the Mountain Experience Course. Conversely, if you are physically adept and very fit then the TMC can still be an option. If you are in doubt as to which program best suits you, please discuss this with us before booking

What to Bring/Wear

EQUIPMENT CHECKLIST:

climbing boots
sleeping bag
sleeping pad
pack
snow stake x 1
belay device
helmet
harness
prusiks x 3 (1 long, 2 short)
locking carabineers at least 3
snaplink carabineers at least 4
slings x 2
ice screw (1)
headlamp - this equipment can be hired and/or purchased in Mt Cook if you do not all ready have it

PERSONAL ITEMS AND CLOTHING CHECKLIST -

Socks (2 pairs)
Gaiters
Climbing Trousers
Mid-weight top
Thermal Underwear
Warm/down jacket
Storm Jacket
Overtrousers (full length leg zip is best)
Warm hat/ balaclava
Warm waterproof gloves
Light-weight gloves
Ski Goggles
Sunglasses
Sun Hat/Visor
Scarf/bandanna
Shorts (optional)
Water Bottle
Sunblock/lip-cream
personal toiletries
Compass (optional)
Personal First Aid Kit incl tape for feet
Bivvy Sac (optional) or Large Plastic Survival Bag
Pocket Knife or Leatherman type tool 1 or 2 collapsible ski poles (optional)
Rock shoes (only if you have them)

What is Supplied

The course fee includes guide fees, a technical manual, all food (including snacks and energy bars), aircraft access, hut fees and local transport.
It also covers village accommodation for any nights necessary during the course
Some technical equipment is provided (see the TMC equipment checklist)
Ropes are provided on the course Some technical equipment is provided - ice axe, ice hammer and crampons
Not included: optional flight out

More Information

*** All prices are in New Zealand Dollars *** Minimum Bookings Courses are based on an economic minimum of two participants. However your guides try to minimise any disturbance to your plans by guaranteeing to run the course you are booked on, with the following modification: One person only: Course is shortened to 8 days This adjustment allows the guide to operate courses that would otherwise have to be cancelled. If your course is shortened and you strike bad weather, your guide will try to postpone the starting date of your course. The course content remains unaffected by these changes and participants enjoy an instruction ratio of 1:1, which allows the course syllabus to be covered more quickly, with close personal attention. Prices are subject to change. Contact the Adrenalin Crew to find out more about how we can make your dream come true: email: action@adrenalin.com.au

$3,250

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