Technical Mountaineering Course (TMC)
"The course was excellent. The best money I ever spent and has served me well" , Blair Falahey 2001
The course to kick start your alpine career
The TMC is a comprehensive and intensive alpine climbing course that will kick-start your mountaineering exploits. For more than 20 years it has been the course for anyone serious about learning alpine climbing in NZ. Most of Australasia's most prominent climbers (and many mountain guides) began their careers on a TMC.
Who is the Technical Mountaineering Course for?
The TMC is for people who want a solid grounding in all alpine skills. Previous alpine (snow & ice) climbing experience is not required, but we expect participants to be fit, keen to learn, and already have some rope skills. The TMC is an ideal follow-up course from our MEC.
What will you achieve?
You will be learning new skills and putting these to practice by climbing progressively more challenging ascents. Each day is spent building on the previous day's learning. By the end of the course you will be able to climb and travel on almost all alpine terrain safely, and with confidence.
Instruction topics include:
- Glacier travel and crevasse rescue
- Snow and ice climbing
- Belay systems and techniques
- Modern rope techniques
- Route finding
- Emergency shelters
- Mountain navigation, weather and forecasting
- Avalanche hazard evaluation
Experience required:
- High level of fitness
- Basic rope skills (e.g. rock climbing, caving, abseiling)
- Trekking/backpacking experience
Optional "TMC Tune-up"
Keen to do the TMC - but don't quite have the rope skills?
Check our "TMC Tune-up". A day and a half focusing on rope skills and rock climbing - from the basics up. A Tune-up runs prior to every TMC. Learn more ››
| Course | Dates |
|---|---|
| TMC 1 | Nov 04-13 |
| TMC 2 | Nov 11-20 |
| TMC 3 | Nov 18-27 |
| TMC 4 | Nov/Dec 25-04 |
| TMC 5 | Dec 02-11 |
| TMC 6 | Dec 09-18 |
| TMC 7 | Dec/Jan 30-08 |
| TMC 8 | Jan 06-15 |
| TMC 9 | Jan 13-22 |
| TMC 10 | Jan 20-29 |
| TMC 11 | Jan/Feb 27-05 |
| TMC 12 | Feb 03-12 |
| TMC 13 | Feb 10-19 |
| TMC 14 | Feb 17-26 |
| TMC 15 | Feb/Mar 24-05 |
| TMC 16 | Mar 03-12 |
| TMC 17 | Mar 10-19 |
| TMC 18 | Mar 17-26 |
Courses span 10 days, starting 1:30 pm day one, finishing 12 noon day 10.
Check for available spaces ››
Price NZ$3150 per person
Cost Includes:
All meals and snacks, aircraft access, accommodation, local transport, use of a range of technical gear, Alpine Guides Technical Manual.
Download Full Details Here
TMC notes ››
Pre-trip Information notes ››
Make a Booking ››
More TMC Propaganda
Participant reviews, web links, yarns, and lies about their TMC experience ››
Magazine/press articles about the TMC ››
TMC promo video ››
Summer Course Options
Mountain Experience Course | Technical Mountaineering Course | TMC Tune-up | Advanced Alpine Skills | Objective:3000 | Technical Alpine Rock Course
Summer Guiding & Expeditions ››
Summer 2009/10 ››
Introductory to advanced climbing courses, guided ascents and expeditions on NZ's highest peaks.
Winter Guiding & Courses ››
From ice climbing and ski mountaineering to avalanche courses and ski touring.
Download a brochure
