Family-Friendly Alpine/Avalanche Course Learn essential alpine and avalanche skills—from crampon use to self-rescue—in a family-friendly, 4-day course. / Public Courses / Family-Friendly Courses Courses / Family-Friendly Alpine/Avalanche Course Overview Join us for our 4-Day Alpine & Avalanche Course, a fun and friendly introduction designed to help you explore the great outdoors! This course combines two exciting parts: our 2-Day Alpine Course and our 2-Day Avalanche Awareness Course, all based at our lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village. Don’t worry if you’re new to this – no prior skills or experience are needed! By the end of the course, you’ll have the essential winter skills to safely hike or climb in the mountains. We welcome everyone, including families! The minimum age for participants is 12 years old, and any youths under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who is also joining in on the adventure. We can’t wait to see you there! Course Details Course Location This course is delivered in the Craigieburn Range and/or Arthur’s Pass area. The course starts in Darfield (30 mins from Christchurch) at 7:30 am. We access the snow at Broken River or Mt Cheeseman ski fields on the first day and drive to our lodge in Arthur’s Pass at the end of each day. The exact locations for days 2-4 will be decided by the group and your instructor during the course, depending on local weather and snow conditions. The course finishes at 4 pm in Arthur’s Pass or Castle Hill village (approx 1.5-2 hours from Christchurch airport). Accommodation - 3 nights included Arthur’s Pass Lodge This course is based at our lodge in Arthur’s Pass Village. The lodge features bunk beds arranged into bedrooms, 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 and hot showers. 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. Free Transport from Christchurch If You’re Travelling From Out Of Town: Free transport is available from Christchurch for those travelling to attend our courses. Check our FAQ’s for a list of hotel pickup locations. We recommend that you arrive in Christchurch the day before your course. 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. Meeting locations (catch a ride with us): If you are bringing your car and want a lift, please meet us at one of the following locations: Yaldhurst McDonald’s 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. OENZ Vans 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 Alpine Training Pathway OENZ Alpine Courses Flow Chart Download Flow Chart Course Outline This alpine and avalanche training course spans four days and equips you with essential skills for safe and effective travel in alpine environments, covering basic mountaineering techniques and avalanche safety. Day 1: Learn Foundation Skills Crampons Flat foot technique Front-pointing Mixed technique Down climbing Ice axe Holding an ice axe Self-belay/plunge Self-arresting Two-axe climbing techniques Steep cutting Day 2: Consolidation Day Today, our goal is to consolidate our new skills and attempt to climb to a high point in the Craigieburn Range or Arthur’s Pass National Park. Please note the word “attempt,” as the mountains will ultimately determine our success in reaching our goal. Our focus is to pass on skills and knowledge so you can enjoy the mountains safely in your own time. Day 3: Introduction to Avalanche Skills & Equipment Avalanche Transceivers Pre-trip checks Wearing a transceiver Coarse search techniques Fine search techniques Pin-point search techniques Probing & Digging Spiral probing technique Snow shovelling techniques Team digging Safe Terrain Travel Identifying avalanche terrain Identifying terrain traps Introduction to safe travel techniques Day 4: Avalanche Skills Weather & Avalanche Forecasts Introduction to the NZ Backcountry Avalanche Advisory Mountain Weather in NZ Probing & Digging Spiral probing technique Snow shovelling techniques Team digging Rescue Scenarios Buddy rescue Small party rescue scenarios Terrain Travel Scrambling (un-roped travel) Roped ridge travel Climbing steep snow/ice Download Course Outline Meet Some of Our Alpine Instructors Alan Haslip Sarah English Kieran Mckay Andy Thompson Frequently Asked Questions Do I need prior experience to attend this course? You don’t need any alpine experience to enrol in this course. It is specifically designed to cover all the essential knowledge and skills you will need to succeed in the mountains. This course includes a wide range of topics, ensuring that every participant can follow along and build a solid foundation of mountaineering skills & knowledge. 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. Does this mountaineering 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 shorter private course with one-on-one tuition – e.g., with one person, we can cover the course content much faster, so fewer days are needed. You will be offered to continue with the course as planned and cover the extra cost. 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 Arthur’s Pass Village for the full duration of your original booking. i.e. any extra time following the course being shortened. 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? No, OENZ will provide all avalanche gear free of charge. You’re welcome to bring and use your own avalanche safety gear if you wish. 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. Can I hire boots for my alpine course? OENZ 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. What is the minimum age? 12 years old if accompanied by a parent or guardian aged 18 years and over. 4-day alpine & avalanche course photos Avalanche rescue training (credit Chris Pruden) Praticing crampon skills Summit of Mt Cassidy, Arthurs Pass Mt Rolleston, Arthurs Pass National Park (Credit Chris Pruden) Arthurs Pass National Park Crampon skills Allan's Basin Craigieburn Range Avalanche digging High above Caste Hill Village Craigieburn Ridge Summit of Hamilton Peak Practicing front point crampon skills Customer Reviews “Loved having the opportunity to do it with the young people and see them enjoy it, knowing they were all good and supported (but not too supported!). The instructor had a calm, supportive and “nothing’s much of a problem” vibe. Felt safe and under control, great to learn from” Stephen, New Zealand “Good knowledgeable trainer, easy to approach and & ask questions. Very much enjoyed!” Alice Cambal, Hokitika, NZ “Thanks guys, we really enjoyed the course and your patient & knowledgeable instructors.” Miles, Christchurch, NZ Still Have Questions? Get in touch with our team — we’re happy to help you prepare for your alpine adventure. Contact Us
