New Zealand Snow Safety Institute

The New Zealand Snow Safety Institute offers specific courses throughout the winter season in a true alpine environment deep in the heart of New Zealand's Southern Alps. The following table lists the courses being offered. Details of each course can be found below also and links there are to a more detailed information sheet. The schedule for delivery can be found here.

All course fees include instruction, accommodation and meals whilst staying in the mountain lodge.

7 Day Multi-skill Mountaineering Course

An intense alpine course covering all aspects including Winter survival, Snowcaving, Avalanche Awareness, Risk Management, Ropes, Knots and Anchors. The ability to develop an understanding of the vagaries of mountain weather living high in an alpine environment will be of real advantage, as will the opportunity to observe the development of the snow pack over a long period, something not possible in a weekend avalanche awareness course. The development of climbing technique over different conditions and getting to know each other well is another great advantage. More details including gear requirements are here.

Avalanche Awareness

This course is an ideal introduction for those skiers, snowboarders, climbers or trampers wishing to gain a basic level of understanding about avalanche safety. Covers terrain, weather, avalanche classification and formation, snow pack analysis, route finding and emergency procedures. More details including gear requirements are here.

Mountain Skills I

An introduction to the basic techniques and equipment employed in an alpine environment. More details including gear requirements are here.

This course revises Mountain Skills I and is designed for those people who wish to extend their basic mountaineering skills.

revision of anchors, both snow and rock
methods of multiple anchors
assisted hoists and z-pully raises
lowering a slightly injured person
use of a rope to safeguard insecure person on a moderate terrain

Mountain Skills III

This course is for the more intermediate mountaineer. It combines previously learnt skills and places them in a practical environment to extend even further their mountaineering skills. Perfect for those who want to take their skills to the next level. Participants must be familiar with the use of ice tools, crampons, self arresting, belaying and abseiling. More details including gear requirements are here.

5 Day Back Country Skills For Skiers And Snowboarders

This course is designed for skiers and snowboarders who wish to develop experience and technical expertise in the back county. Some aspects of the course will be optional, but it will be possible for you to learn essential survival skills, spend a night in a snow cave, learn what to do when travelling on ridges and glaciers, avalanche awareness and many other skills for skiers and boarders wanting to go back country. We aim to provide you with a five-day course that will allow you to safely explore the mountains off the beaten trail. More details including gear requirements are here.

5 Day Mountain Skills For Climbers And Trampers

This course is designed for climbers and trampers who wish to develop experience and technical expertise in the mountains. Some aspects of the course will be optional, but it will be possible for you to learn essential mountaineering skills, spend a night in a snow cave, learn what to do when travelling on ridges and glaciers, avalanche awareness and many other skills for people wanting to head out into the mountains. We aim to provide you with a five-day course that will allow you to safely explore the mountains. More details including gear requirements are here.

Otago Polytechnic - New Zealand Mountain Safety Council Avalanche 1 Course

This Avalanche Programme is jointly administered by Otago Polytechnic and the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council and is the nationally recognised training programme for professionals working in the field. The New Zealand courses are modelled on the Canadian Avalanche Association professional training programme which are recognised at an international level. For more details check out the information at http://www.avalanche.ac.nz.

Anchors and Abseiling Clinic is an introduction to basic anchor systems and theory. The clinic provides a context on anchors for climbing >Gr1+ mountains in summer.

Topics Include:

• Single and multi point anchor rigging
• Self protected abseiling
• Single and multi pitch abseil retreats in an alpine environment

Building on Basic Anchor and Abseiling, this course introduces basic methods of rescue and problem solving around single and multi pitch climbing
Topics include:

• Escaping a belay system
• Ascending and descending the rope
• Abseil retreat with an injured person

Combining the Anchors and Abseiling Clinic with the RR for recreational climbers, this course also introduces the concept of Multi Pitch climbing on alpine rock
Topics:

• Single and multi point anchor construction
• Self Protected Abseiling
• Single and multi pitch abseil retreats in an alpine setting
• Escaping the system
• Ascending and descending the rope
• Rescue abseiling with a patient
• Multi Pitch climbing techniques
• Climbing to Grade 14

COURSES