Avalanche Awareness Course (ASC1) A 2-day course to identify avalanche terrain, understand the Backcountry Avalanche Advisory & practice avalanche rescue. / Public Courses / Avalanche Courses / Avalanche Awareness Course (ASC1) Overview This is a 2-day introductory avalanche awareness course that focuses on identifying avalanche terrain and understanding what causes avalanches. Understanding the NZ Backcountry Avalanche Advisory is a vital skill that you will learn in this course. This is a practical field-based course with some theory to increase your understanding. This course is approved by the Mountain Safety Council (MSC). You will gain an MSC certificate in Avalanche Awareness upon completion of this course. Please note: This course is delivered as a walking course. The skills and information apply to backcountry skiing, boarding, alpine hiking and mountaineering. All alpine and avalanche gear is provided. Course Details Course Location This course starts at 8:30 a.m. in Arthur’s Pass village (2 hours from Christchurch). The practical components of the course are delivered in the Craigieburn Range. We access the snow via Broken River or Mt Cheeseman ski field and drive to our lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village at the end of the day. The group and your instructor will decide the exact location for the second day during the trip planning session, depending on local weather and snow conditions. The course finishes at 4 pm in Arthurs Pass or Castle Hill village (approx 1.5-2 hours from Christchurch airport). Accommodation **All your accommodation is included in this alpine course** Arthur’s Pass This course is based out of our lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village. The lodge features bunk beds arranged across a number of bunkrooms, accommodating up to 20 people. It includes a fully equipped kitchen stocked with utensils, cookware, a refrigerator, and ovens. You will also have access to electricity, bathroom facilities, hot showers, and heating. Please remember to bring your sleeping bag and pillow . Food Food is not provided for this course. We recommend that you pack plenty of snacks and lunches that do not require cooking. You are welcome to use the full kitchen and fridge available at the lodge. Please keep in mind that the store and pub in Arthur’s Pass Village can be unreliable during winter. It’s important to come prepared to self-cater for the entire duration of the course. Transport - not included for this course Transport from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass is not included in this course. However, we can provide a return trip to Christchurch at the end of the course, with the earliest drop-off time being 6:00 PM at Christchurch Airport. For those who travel, there is a shuttle service available from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass that departs daily at 2:00 PM. You can book your ride at EastWestcoaches.com. Please note that if you opt for this shuttle, you should book it for the day before the course starts. We will assist you in arranging accommodation in Arthur’s Pass. Meeting Location: Please meet at Arthurs Pass Café & Store at 8:00 AM. You can find it on Google Maps. Alternatively, if you prefer to arrive the night before the course, you can meet at Arthur’s Pass, and we will help you find accommodation. Gear & Equipment All you will need for this course is waterproof boots and regular outdoor clothing. We have all the specialist mountaineering and avalanche equipment available for you to borrow. If you have your own gear, we encourage you to bring it along, as it’s better to train with the gear you will be using in the mountains. Gear List Alpine Boot Guide Is this the right alpine course for me? OENZ Alpine Courses Flow Chart Download Flow Chart Course Outline This 2-day introductory avalanche awareness course focuses on identifying avalanche terrain and understanding what causes avalanches. This course is approved by the Mountain Safety Council (MSC). You will gain an MSC certificate in Avalanche Awareness upon completion of this course. Day 1: Introduction to avalanche skills Avalanche Transceivers Pre-trip checks Wearing a transceiver Coarse search techniques Fine search techniques Pin-point search techniques Probing & Digging patten probing technique Snow shovelling techniques Team digging Weather & Avalanche Forecasts Introduction to the NZ Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Mountain Weather in NZ Day 2: Route Planning, safe travel & rescue scenarios Safe Terrain Travel Identifying avalanche terrain Identifying terrain traps Introduction to safe travel techniques Rescue Scenarios Buddy rescue Small party rescue scenarios Download Course Outline Meet Some of Our Avalanche Instructors Alan Haslip Sarah English Kieran Mckay Michael Pickner Frequently Asked Questions Do I need prior experience to attend this course? Yes, you must be comfortable using crampons and be able to use an ice axe to perform a self-arrest before attending this course. How many people will be on my course? We believe that smaller groups are more effective for this type of training. Therefore, we maintain a maximum client-to-instructor ratio of six clients per instructor. Does this avalanche awareness course have minimum numbers? Yes, the minimum number of participants required for the course to proceed at the advertised price is four people. However, if we do not meet the minimum number, we will not cancel your course. Instead, you will have the following options: 1. A shorter private course with one-on-one tuition. For example, if you are the only participant, we can cover the course content much faster, requiring fewer days. 2. You can choose to continue with the course as planned and cover the additional cost. 3. We can transfer your enrollment to another date when the course is running again. What gear do I need to attend an OENZ alpine course? You will need to bring your own clothing, waterproof gear, and boots; OENZ will provide the rest. A complete packing list is available here. Gear list Alpine boot guide Do I need to provide my own avalanche gear for the course? All avalanche gear and technical gear, such as ice axes, crampons, and transceivers, will be provided at no cost. You are welcome to bring and use your All avalanche gear and technical equipment, such as ice axes, crampons, and transceivers, will be provided at no cost. You are welcome to bring and use your own avalanche safety gear if you prefer.own avalanche safety gear if you prefer. What type of boots do I need? You will need good waterproof boots that have ankle support. Trail shoes are not appropriate for alpine use. Click here to download our Alpine boot guide. Alpine boot guide Can I hire boots for my alpine course? We do not have boots available to hire or borrow. What is the minimum age for this avalanche course? The minimum age for this course is 18 years old. 16-17-year-olds may attend this course if accompanied by an adult who is also attending this course. Do you have avalanche courses suitable for younger people? Yes, we run several family-friendly courses. Please see our family-friendly courses page for more details. 2-day avalanche awareness course photos Avalanche rescue training Searching with an avalanche transceiver Mt Rolleston, Arthurs Pass National Park Avalanche digging practice Arthurs Pass National Park Using an avalanche probe Gearing up for a climb Customer Reviews “Gideon [the instructor] was passionate about the information he was passing on to us and that reflected in the theory teaching and practical…. We were always kept safe and the technical knowledge we gained will keep us informed for a long time. I have taken away a lot away from this course.” John, New Zealand “I would absolutely recommend OENZ to anyone I know. I recently completed the 2 day avalanche skills course with Michael and loved it. His enthusiasm was infectious and he had so much knowledge to share. Also just a great bloke! Admin process was smooth and easy also. These guys are passionate about what they do and if you book a course with them you won’t be disappointed!” Laura Spandler “Amazing knowledge and staff to teach. The lodge at Arthurs Pass is great! Met lots of great people and had the best time. My second time with OENZ on a course and highly rate it” Ros, Auckland, NZ “Over the last couple of weekends I’ve done two courses with OENZ – Avalanche Awareness, and Intermediate Snow Skills, with the latter course being tailored to our specific requirements. My fellow Christchurch Tramping Club members and I have gained a lot of valuable knowledge and skills from these courses, and it’s made us hungry to get out and do more in the mountains in winter. Our instructors were very professional and made sure that we understood what was being taught at all times. It’s been a great experience and a huge amount of fun.” John Kerkhofs “Did my 2-Day Avalanche Awareness (ASC1) with Mike and Andy. Very informative with a lot of field time to discuss and practice. Nice crowd too. Really enjoyed this class.” Ah Bo, New Zealand “Fantastic ASC1 course. Our guide Michael was extremely knowledgeable and shared his genuine love for the mountains throughout the whole course. A great couple of days in the hills, thanks OENZ and Michael!” Nicholas, New Zealand Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your alpine adventure. Contact Us
