TMC Tune-up Course | Details for summer 2012/13

The TMC Tune-up is an optional clinic designed to get you ready for the Technical Mountaineering Course.

Should you do the Tune-up?

If your rope skills are rusty, or if you meet (or exceed) the other TMC prerequisites, but don’t have recent rock climbing/ technical rope handling experience, you need to do this preliminary course.

Instruction Topics

There is a lot to pack into a short time. All instruction focuses on practical application, and learning by doing:

• Introduction to your gear
• Rope basics: rope construction, how to handle, coil, and look after your rope
• Harnesses and safety
• Knot refresher
• Belaying principles
• Rock climbing (AU grade up to 15) including multi-pitch routes
• Abseiling principles and safety
• Runners & protection

If time allows we may also include prusiking and roping up for glacier travel.

Details and Price

The Tune-up runs for 1½ days prior to each TMC. Based at Mount Cook Village, you will go through all the basics of rope handling, anchors, and rock climbing.

Climbing will be done at our rock wall, and at Sebastopol Bluffs (our local multi-pitch crag). In the event that the weather isn’t good we’ll head to a local indoor climbing wall. Transport is provided whenever required.

Price: NZ$395 per person

Price includes:

• Lunch on day 2
• Any technical climbing gear required

Maximum guide to participant ratio: 3 participants per guide

Reporting details

All TMC Tune-ups begin at Alpine Guides shop in Mount Cook Village.

• Day one: start 13:30
• Day 2: start 08:30

The start time works in with scheduled bus services ›

You need to provide

1. Your own accommodation

You must provide your own accommodation during the Tune-up. We recommend Mt Cook YHA for lodging within Mt Cook Village, but other options are available.

Information on Mt Cook accommodation providers ›

2. Your own Meals

We will provide a packed lunch on day 2.

How to book the TMC Tune-up

Select the “Tune-up” option on the booking form when choosing your TMC. Alternatively , get in contact with us once you have booked your place on a TMC.

Equipment provided and required

Feel free to bring your own rock climbing gear, if you have it.

We provide all of the following equipment:

• Rock shoes
• Harness
• Helmet
• Belay device
• Karabiners— large screwgate x2
• Karabiners — snap-link, at least 4
• Prusiks, 1 long and 2 short

Other items to bring:

• Small backpack (20 - 30 litre day-pack)
• Water bottle
• Comfortable climbing clothing (for warm or cool temperatures)
• Sun hat
• Sun block