5-Day Alpine Course Learn to climb classic winter alpine routes with confidence on this hands-on mountaineering course. / Public Courses / Alpine Courses / 5-Day Alpine Course Overview Our 5-day mountaineering course will give you all the skills you need to climb classic winter mountain routes in New Zealand and overseas. Delivered by our highly skilled local guides, you will learn all the essential skills required to get out there and climb independently. From our base lodge in Arthurs Pass, we can access some of the best peaks and climbing terrain in Arthurs Pass National Park, including Mt Temple, Mt Phipps, and Mt Cassidy. Course Details Prerequisites Before attending this course, you must be competent in walking in crampons, using an ice axe, be able to self-arrest competently, and have the ability to perform avalanche rescue. This is an intermediate-level course. Please contact us before booking if you believe you have the prerequisite skills but haven’t attended any formal training. TMC Course Location This mountaineering course takes place in Arthur’s Pass National Park. We meet in Arthur’s Pass Village and travel up the mountain to Temple Basin Lodge the evening before the course begins, staying there until the course finishes. However, New Zealand mountain weather can be fickle, so as a backup option, sometimes we split the course between Arthur’s Pass and The Craigieburn Range (see map). Having flexibility in course location ensures you will get the most of your time with us. Access to snow We’ll meet in Arthur’s Pass Village the day before the course starts and walk to the accommodation and training area at Temple Basin, where you will stay for the duration of the course. A goods lift will conveniently transport your gear to the lodge. Please note that this course does not require “fly-in” access to reach our training areas. Access to both the Craigieburn Range and Temple Basin involves a short walk uphill, which can be completed in almost any weather conditions. This ensures that we can guarantee access to the mountains in a variety of conditions. In contrast, courses that require fly-in access are often heavily adapted or shortened due to delays from helicopter flights being cancelled due to high winds or poor visibility—conditions that are frequently encountered in the New Zealand mountains. Accommodation **All your accommodation is included in this mountaineering course** Temple Basin Lodge, Arthur’s Pass (Days 1-5) The day before the course starts, we’ll walk up to Temple Basin Alpine Lodge, which is situated high above Arthur’s Pass village. The lodge is very comfortable, featuring electricity, flush toilets, a drying room, heaters, bunk rooms, and a large common room with a bar & even a chef. Please bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Food This course is semi-catered. Days 1-5 The team at Temple Basin Lodge will look after the catering. You can expect a cooked breakfast, dinner and dessert, all prepared by the on-site chef. A small shop and bar are also available to purchase refreshments and snacks. Transport Transport from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass is NOT included in this course. There is public transport from Christchurch to Arthur’s Pass that departs daily at 2pm: EastWestcoaches.co.nz. Meeting location: Arthur’s Pass Café & Store 5:30 pm the night before the course starts (see on Google Maps) At the end of the course, we are more than happy to drop you back to Christchurch or directly to the airport. The earliest time we can have you back at the airport is 6 pm. Gear & Equipment You don’t need your own climbing or mountaineering gear for this course. We have all the specialist gear & 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- Outdoor Education New Zealand Alpine Training Pathway OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand Alpine Courses Flow Chart Download Flow Chart Course Outline This course is the next step for people with experience using crampons, ice axes, self-arresting and performing avalanche rescue. In this course, you will gain the skills and confidence to climb independently in the mountains. Night 1: Travel We’ll meet you in Arthur’s Pass Village at 5:30 pm and make our way to Temple Basin Lodge. Day 1: Temple Basin + Rope Skills We’ll spend the day learning about the gear and some foundational skills to set us up for the week of climbing. We will introduce all of the technical equipment, fit harnesses, and learn a range of useful knots. We’ll then head outdoors to practice some of these skills. Day 2: Multi-Pitch Climbing + Ridge Travel Skills Ropework Knots for alpine climbing Alpine rock protection & rock anchors Snow anchors & runners Pitching & belaying Body belays Stomp belay Abseiling Climbing in 2 & 3-person teams Snow Anchors Snow Stakes T-Slot Vertical placements Horizontal placement Top clips Snow Bollard Day 3: Attempt a Summit Building on the skills you’ve learnt so far, your guide will complete the remaining climbing skills left to be taught with the objective of attempting a summit. Summit options include: Mt Temple, Mt Blimit, Mt Cassidy Day 4: Crevasse Rescue Glacier Travel & Crevasse Rescue Roping up for glacier travel Crevasse rescue Holding a fall Self-rescue 2:1 (simple) haul systems 5:1 (complex) haul system Day 5: Refine + Review Skills The final day is a chance to consolidate your skills, revisit key concepts, and clarify anything you’re still unsure about. Your guide will have time set aside to review important topics, but this is also your opportunity to make sure you’ve gained everything you wanted from the course. Download Course Outline Meet Some of Our Alpine Instructors Alan Haslip Kieran Mckay Sarah English Andy Thompson Frequently Asked Questions Do participants need prior experience to attend the 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand? Yes, prior experience is required to attend the 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand. Because this is an intermediate-level course, participants must already be competent in walking in crampons, using an ice axe, self-arresting, and performing avalanche rescues. If you believe you have these prerequisite skills but have not attended any formal training, please contact OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand before booking. What is the client-to-instructor ratio and group size for the 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand? For the 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand, the maximum client-to-instructor ratio is four clients to one instructor. If there are six clients on the course, the group will be led by one guide and one assistant guide. If there are eight clients, there will be two guides, and the participants will operate in two smaller groups. What is the minimum number of participants required for the 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand? The 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand requires a minimum of two participants to proceed at the advertised price. However, if the minimum number is not met, the course is not cancelled. Instead, participants are offered three alternative options: Transitioning to a shorter private course: One-on-one tuition allows the course content to be covered much faster, so fewer days are needed. Continuing with the original course plan: Participants can choose to proceed with the course as originally planned and cover the extra cost. Transferring dates: Participants can transfer their booking to another date when the course is running again. Additionally, in the unlikely event that the course is shortened due to insufficient numbers, OENZ will still provide accommodation in Arthur’s Pass Village for the full duration of the original booking. What gear do I need to attend this 5-day Mountaineering course with OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand alpine course? Participants attending the 5-Day Mountaineering Course with OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand must bring their own personal clothing, waterproof outer gear, and suitable boots. OENZ provides all other specialist mountaineering gear and technical safety equipment free of charge. A complete packing list for the OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand 5-day mountaineering course is available to download here in PDF format. Gear list Alpine boot guide Do I need to provide my own avalanche gear for the 5-day mountaineering course with OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand? No, you do not need to provide your own avalanche gear for the 5-day mountaineering course. OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand provides all necessary avalanche safety equipment free of charge. However, participants are welcome to bring and use their own avalanche gear if they prefer. What type of boots are required for the five-day mountaineering course with OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand “For the five-day mountaineering course offered by OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand, you will need good, waterproof boots that provide ankle support. Trail shoes are not suitable for alpine use, so you will need stiff boots with a minimum of a three-quarter shank or full mountaineering boots Here is a link to download a PDF version of the OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand Alpine boot guide. Can I hire boots for my alpine course? OENZ- Outdoor Education New Zealand does not have boots available to hire or borrow. Boot hire is available from several outdoor stores in Auckland and Dunedin. If you are hiring or borrowing boots, please get waterproof leather boots. Plastic mountaineering boots are not suitable for general mountaineering in New Zealand. Can I test my gear and camp out in the snow on this course? Yes, if you’re interested in testing your alpine gear by spending a night camping in the snow near the lodge at Temple Basin, we’ll be happy to help arrange this for you. What is the minimum age requirement for the five-day mountaineering course offered by OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand? The minimum age requirement for the five-day mountaineering course with OENZ – Outdoor Education New Zealand is eighteen years old. For individuals under eighteen, we offer family-friendly courses. 5-day alpine course photos Abseiling/Repelling Praticing crampon skills Summit of Mt Cassidy, Arthurs Pass Ascending ridge near the summit of Mt Temple, Arthur's Pass Temple Basin Lodge Avalanche rescue training Mixed climbing on Mt Temple Mt Rolleston, Arthurs Pass National Park Arthurs Pass National Park Enjoying the mountains. Mt Rolleston in background Temple Basin Lodge Roped up for glacier travel Mt Blimit with Mt Rolleston in the background Sorting out the ropes Gearing up for a climb Customer Reviews “Thanks for such a phenomenal week on the 5- day Mountaineering course in Arthurs Pass; honestly, it was a lifetime experience. Learned heaps, gained enough confidence to go into the mountains and give stuff a go! Can’t thank you enough.” Joel Balmer, Christchurch, NZ “Now more comfortable and confident for adventures in the mountains.” Bella, New Zealand “Coldest, highest, steepest and happiest I’ve been in the mountains. ” Jacob Fast, USA Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your alpine adventure. Contact Us
