Mountaineering
Technical Mountaineering Course
New Zealand - Mount Cook Region

• Skills covered in the course >
• Fitness & prior experience required >
• Equipment & clothing you will need >
• What is supplied in the course >

As a part of your training regime you will be asked to actually jump into some seriously deep crevasses while attached to a rope and anchor so that your team mates can perform a simulated rescue. I can assure you that it’s nothing short of heart stopping and goes totally against your natural instincts - it's a serious adrenalin rush!.

You will also be asked to abseil off the side of a mountain, scale a wall of vertical ice and walk several razor ridges with over a kilometre of sheer drop down one side. During your course you can expect to summit 2-3 significant mountains, each one more technically challenging than the previous. It’s an experience that you'll never forget.

While all that might sound a bit dangerous, rest assured that your safety will be in the hands of some of the world’s best mountain guides and mountaineering tutors so you can relax and enjoy the rush while learning lifelong skills from the best in the business!.

There are all kinds of thrill rides available nowadays. With V8 Supercar rides, bungy jumping, skydiving etc the thrill is measured in minutes. With a technical mountaineering course the rush goes on for about ten days. Now that’s a huge amount of adrenalin for your dollar in anyone's view!

OK, down to business! We have teamed up with adventure providers Adrenalin to bring our visitors a range of climbing courses including a New Zealand based Technical

Mountaineering Course. The purpose of this course is to provide you with the necessary skills and knowledge to operate safely and efficiently in any mountain environment in the world including the Himalayas. This is the real deal!

 

 

The skills covered in this technical mountaineering course include:

• Abseiling
• Rope techniques
• Glacier travel & crevasse rescue
• Proper use of equipment
• Trip planning & preparation
• Knots & hitches
• Mountain weather forecasting
• Step & stance cutting
• Hut management, cooking & food preparation
• Alpine rock techniques
• Snow & ice climbing
• Belay techniques & systems
• Snow, rock & ice anchors
• Avalanche hazard evaluation
• Emergency shelters and procedures
• Mountain navigation
• Route finding
• Mountaineering first aid
• Self arrest

Fitness & prior technical experience

While previous mountaineering experience is not necessary in order to participate in a technical mountaineering course, it is important that you have some prior experience in rock climbing, rope techniques and trekking. Participating in a technical mountaineering course without such experience would present you with a steep learning curve. It is advisable to complete a basic rock climbing course first. Not only will this provide the basic rope skills to enable you to hit the ground running but will also prime you for the often intimidating sensation of being exposed to sheer drops for the first time.

Training days are usually around 8-10 hours long and are physically demanding throughout. It goes without saying that a high level of aerobic fitness is paramount in order to successfully complete your Technical Mountaineering Course and to get the most out of it. The level of fitness required for a Technical Mountaineering Course is

similar to that required for a full-scale mountaineering adventure.

Required equipment & clothing

Although some equipment is provided as part of the course, there is a range of equipment and clothing that participants must supply themselves. The checklist below outlines what you will need.

Most of the equipment can be hired or purchased at Mount Cook but you will find our gear shop much more competitive in pricing if you are planning to buy your own, especially if you are buying multiple items at once.

• Mountaineering boots
• 3-4 seasons sleeping bag
• Self inflating sleeping pad eg.Therm-a-Rest
• Backpack with provisions for carrying ice tools and crampons
• Snow stake x1
• Belay device eg. ATC
• Climbing helmet
• Climbing harness - mountaineering type
• Prussic x3 (1 long, 2 short)
• Locking carabiners (at least 3)
• Snaplock carabiners (at least 4)
• Slings x2
• Ice screw x1
• Headlamp - Petzl or similar quality
• Hiking or extreme weather socks x2 pair
• Gaiters
• Climbing trousers
• Mid weight top
• Thermal underwear
• Down jacket or similar
• Storm jacket - Gore-Tex or similar
• Storm pants with leg zips - Gore-Tex or similar
• Warm hat/beanie/balaclava
• Warm waterproof gloves
• Thermal gloves
• Ski goggles
• Glacier glasses
• Sun hat/visor
• Scarf/bandanna
• Shorts (optional)
• Water bottles x2-3
• Sunblock/lip balm
• Personal toiletries
• Compass (optional)
• Personal first aid kit (incl. tape for feet)
• Bivvy sack or large plastic survival bag
• Pocket knife or Leatherman tool

What is supplied

The course fees include guide's fees, access flight in, local transport, hut fees, all food during the course. Village accommodation within Mount Cook is also included. Some equipment is included such as crampons, ice axe, ice hammer and ropes. The optional flight out is not included.

How to joint this technical mountaineering course

Simply click the link below to be taken to the Technical Mountaineering Course booking and information page on our sponsor's site. They will be able to provide you with all the information and support required for a successful and rewarding experience. Enjoy the thrill!

Book your Technical Mountaineering Course now!