4-day Alpine & Avalanche Course - OENZ

4-Day Intro to Alpine & Avalanche Course

This comprehensive four-day course is designed for beginner alpine adventurers, trampers, and aspiring mountaineers seeking essential skills for safe mountain travel and avalanche awareness in New Zealand’s backcountry. Based in the dramatic Craigieburn Range near Arthur’s Pass, the course combines hands-on instruction with practical experience in real alpine terrain.

Day 1 focuses on building foundational alpine skills, including correct use of ice axes and crampons, step-cutting, and self-arrest techniques. Participants will also learn how to pack and select gear appropriate for alpine conditions. After a practical training session at Mt Cheeseman, the group returns to a lodge in Arthur’s Pass for an evening session on alpine trip planning using maps, guidebooks, and the NZ mountain grading system.

Day 2 offers the opportunity to apply these new skills on a guided attempt to reach a high point or summit in the Craigieburn Range. Along the way, participants will practice avalanche avoidance strategies, emergency shelter building, and safe movement through varied terrain—learning to adapt plans based on conditions and group dynamics.

Day 3 shifts the focus to avalanche awareness and rescue techniques. Training includes transceiver use, probing, single and multiple burial rescue scenarios, and identifying avalanche terrain based on slope angle, aspect, and weather observations. A theory session in the evening helps consolidate key decision-making principles.

Day 4 brings all elements together with a final team-led alpine trip. After interpreting the current avalanche forecast, the group will plan and execute a safe route while practicing avalanche search techniques, team rescue coordination, and emergency digging methods under realistic scenarios.

Whether you're planning future alpine adventures or simply want to travel in the mountains more safely and independently, this course offers a practical, immersive introduction to alpine and avalanche skills in a stunning, high-alpine setting.

NOTE: *Teenager refers to youth aged 16-17 years of age.