Backcountry Avalanche Course (ASC 2)
Four-day backcountry avalanche course.
A comprehensive 4-day backcountry avalanche course for walkers and climbers. This course includes and builds on our very popular 2-day introductory avalanche awareness course. Learn everything from how to use an avalanche transceiver to technical rescues and snowpack analysis.
**Prior experience is not necessary, and gear and equipment is provided**
Adult Price $2199* (minimum age 18 years)
Youth Price $1149** (16-17 years, accompanied by an adult)
Ask about our Family Friendly courses for ages less than 16 years.
Backcountry Avalanche course location
The first two days of this course are delivered in the Craigieburn Range, close to Castle Hill village. The course starts in Darfield (30 mins from Christchurch) at 7:30 am. We access the snow at Broken River or Mt Cheeseman ski field and drive to our lodge in Arthurs Pass at the end of the first day. The exact location for the second day will be decided by the group and your instructor during the trip planning session and will vary depending on local weather and snow conditions but will be around the Craigieburn Range.
Day three and four will be based wherever conditions suit best. Again, your instructor and your group will decide on the best location, taking into account the snow and terrain. Options will include Temple Basin and the Otira Valley.
ACCOMMODATION (INCLUDED)
This course is based out of our lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village. The lodge has bunk beds set up across three bedrooms and can sleep up to 20 people. It has a kitchen stocked with utensils, cookware, fridge, ovens. You will also be treated to power, bathroom facilities, hot showers and heating. All you need to bring is your sleeping bag, pillow and food.
**Your accommodation is included**
GEAR & EQUIPMENT
All you will need for this course is waterproof boots and normal outdoor clothing. We will supply all the mountaineering and avalanche equipment for you if you don’t have your own. You can find a packing list and course outline at the bottom of this page.
FOOD
Food is not provided on this course. We recommend packing plenty of snacks and lunches that do not require cooking. The lodge has a full kitchen & fridge that you are welcome to use. Alternatively, the local pub in Arthurs Pass serves basic meals and refreshments.
FREE TRANSPORT
If you’re staying in a hotel
Free transport is available from any Christchurch accommodation if you’re travelling from out of town to attend one of our courses.
Meeting locations (catch a ride with us)
If you have your own car and want a lift, we can meet you at one of the following locations.
Yaldhurst Mcdonalds 7:00 am (see on google maps)
*Darfield Bakery 7:30 am (see on google maps)
*Castle Hill Village 8:30 am (see on google maps)
*Our preferred meeting location is Darfield Bakery.
TRAVELLING FROM OUT OF TOWN?
We recommend that you arrive in Christchurch the day before your course. We have a few hotel & hostel suggestions on our FAQ’s page. Please avoid booking accommodation north or east of the city centre. At the end of the course, we are more than happy to drop you back at your accommodation or directly to the airport. The earliest time we can have you back at the airport is 6 pm.
When is the next course?
This course runs from August to November, visit our Course Calendar for course dates and bookings.
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Price: $2199*
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* This is the early bird booking price, standard rates available on the course calendar.
**Conditions apply for youth pricing structure. See FAQ’s page.
Backcountry avalanche course includes
Avalanche Skills
Weather & avalanche forecasts
- Introduction to the NZ BackcountryAvalanche Advisory
- Mountain Weather in NZ
Avalanche transceivers
- Pre-trip checks
- Wearing a transceiver
- Coarse search techniques
- Fine search techniques
- Pin-point search techniques
Probing & digging
- Spiral Probing technique
- Snow Shoveling techniques
- Team digging
Safe terrain travel
- Identifying avalanche terrain
- Identifying terrain traps
- Introduction to safe travel techniques
Rescue scenario’s
- Buddy rescue
- Small party rescue scenarios
- Maultable berial senarios
Snow Pack
- Simple stability tests
- Identifying layers
- Snow crystal identification
- Compression tests
- Extended column tests
HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE ON MY COURSE?
We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum client to instructor ratio of just six clients to one instructor. If there are eight clients, you will have one guide and one assistant guide.
DOES THIS AVALANCHE COURSE HAVE MINIMUM NUMBERS?
Yes, the minimum number for the course to proceed at the advertised price is two clients. We won’t cancel your course if we don’t meet the minimum numbers, though; instead, we will offer you the following options:
a.) A shorter private course with 1-1 tuition – e.g. with one person we can cover the course content much faster, so far fewer days are needed.
b.) You will be offered to continue with the course as planned and cover the extra cost.
c.) We can transfer you to another date when the course is running again.
Note: In the unlikely event that the course length is shortened due to insufficient numbers. We will provide accommodation for you in Arthurs Pass Village for the full duration of your original booking. i.e. any extra time following the course being shortened.
Backcountry avalanche course downloads
SEE WHAT OUR CLIENTS HAVE TO SAY
“Got a great deal out of the course in terms of both theory and practice.”
“Communication before and during the course were excellent. Facilities were great. Plenty of chances to practice skills.”
“So informative and an absolutely essential experience for trampers and mountaineers!”
“Awesome course, would recommend to anyone looking for mountaineering skills or winter tramping confidence.”
“ASC2 reinforced + consolidated prior avalanche knowledge while introducing new concepts at a manageable rate. I feel more comfortable to go out in the snow + keep learning. This is in large part due to the effectiveness + high quality of the instructors” -Abi, NZ.
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