Mountaineering Courses | FAQ

Answers to questions about Alpine Guides mountaineering courses.

See also:

What happens if I am the only person booked - will the course cancelled?

No. We guarantee to run your scheduled course with at least one booking. This avoids disrupting travel plans.

The course will be shortened, but the course structure will not be affected. The detailed notes for each trip explain this in detail.

Why no shorter mountaineering courses - 2 or 3 days in length?

  • To learn the skills of mountaineering you require time. Time to learn new techniques, and time to practice. It won't happen in just a few days.
  • New Zealand's Southern Alps has a temperate maritime climate. We have variable weather patterns. Short duration trips can potentially be severely affected by bad weather. A longer trip offers a better chance of success.
  • Walking in and out from many alpine climbing venues can take between one and 2 full days. Shorter duration trips restrict climbing venue options, and possible objectives, even if using aircraft.

Why no courses like the TMC during Winter?

Most climbing instruction courses run are through summer as this is when conditions are nest best suited for learning to climb. Winter in the Southern Alps is a challenging time for mountaineers. Deep soft snow can make travel on foot difficult. Avalanche conditions can cut off many routes. Short daylight hours also reduces time available for longer routes.

What about weather contingency days? Why don't you offer these?

We do offer contingency days on 4 and 5-day winter program (Ice Climbing Experience, Arrowsmith Touring, Backcountry Courses and Winter Mountain Skills), but these are exceptions.

Some guiding companies offer "weather contingency" days as a booking incentive. However, in reality this seldom works in during the summer high-season because:

  • Guide's work schedules are seldom flexible enough to allow shifting the start/finish dates of courses
  • Difficulties re-booking your travel and accommodation at short notice
  • What happens to the group if one person absolutely cannot change their travel plans? Do all the course participants leave the mountains early, because one or two people can't finish the course with revised dates?

Our courses are long enough to work around most weather situations, and still provide a solid learning experience.

What happens if the weather is "bad"?

On a course some poor weather is a great learning experience. Mountaineering isn't always postcard perfect weather, and your trip won't stop if the weather closes in.

Bad weather is the time to work around the hut area practicing rope work, navigation, avalanche theory, weather forecasting, and to build snow shelters.

If weather delays your flight into the mountains, we have plenty of activities to keep you busy.

Our group wants to stay in the mountains after our Private Instruction course. Can we do this?

Yes, but you must be well prepared. You need to bring your own equipment, including ropes, food, and fuel for the the extra time in the mountains. We will discuss this during the booking process.

A concern is getting your guide out of the mountains at the end of your trip. You can escort your guide to the firn line so that he/she can walk out (if the walk out is possible in one day from your location).

Alternatively, you can arrange to fly your guide out of the mountains (and pay for this). If the weather forecast for the end of your trip is bad, you may have to get the guide out earlier than planed. There is no refund in this case.

     

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