4 - 6 day instruction course, 2 - 4 participants per guide.
"For an introduction to climbing in the mountains, there wouldn't be a better facility in NZ." P. Chapman, Dunedin.
"I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. It fully exceeded my expectations. The course coverage was excellent, and at a pace which suited me. Caroline Hut proved to be an excellent base, and the food was the best I've eaten in months. I cannot commend Phil highly enough, he was an excellent guide. Overall excellent!" N. Humphreys, Auckland.
Climbing in the Ball Pass area
This 4 or 6 day climbing course at our privately owned Caroline Hut in the Mount Cook National Park will teach you not only the technical skills of mountaineering, but, more importantly, raise your risk awareness, and improve your ability to keep safe in the mountains. Because we are not dependent on aircraft to access the venue for this course, we do not need to include extra days to allow for good flying conditions. The four day course is for trampers or hikers who want to sample mountaineering. The six day course is for those who intend to go beyond the basic skills of mountaineering later in their career. This course also gives the option of a crossing of Ball Pass, and a climb of Peak 2222m/7290ft, or Turner Peak 2341m/7680 ft. The emphasis is on "learn as you climb". All equipment is included.
Learn how to:
| Dates: | November - April, ex Lake Tekapo. Check availability. | ||||||||||||
| Fitness: | A high level of fitness is required. | ||||||||||||
| Group Size : | Minimum 2 participants, maximum 8 participants; 4 participants per guide. | ||||||||||||
| Cost per person: |
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| NZ$ exchange rate. | |||||||||||||
| Included in price: | All trips start 8am first day and finish 6-7pm last day and include guide, hut accommodation, all food, transport ex Lake Tekapo, crampons, ice-axe, all other climbing equipment and boots if required, National Park concession fees, 12.5% GST. Meals and accommodation before/after tour not included. A letter certifying course completion is available on request. A climbing manual covering the course material is available for purchase for $20 before/after the course. |
Learning step cutting skills
Day 1: Course starts at 8am at Alpine Recreation's office, 30 Murray Place, Lake Tekapo with a gear check. Any items of equipment that you have been unable to provide yourself will be provided free-of-charge. Good leather climbing boots are available if you do not have your own. All technical mountaineering equipment is provided (helmets, harnesses, slings, carabiners, rope etc.) but you are welcome to bring your own if you have them. Drive to Mount Cook (about 1 hour), and the end of the Tasman Glacier. You walk up the old Ball Hut Road, parallel to the glacier. From the Ball Shelter you climb 850m/2800ft up the Ball Ridge to Caroline Hut at 1800m/6000ft, perched right opposite New Zealand's highest ice face, the Caroline Face of Mount Cook. The hut is fully stocked with food, firewood, sleeping bags, cooking and eating utensils so packs will be relatively light, but some fresh items of food need to be carried, e.g. bread, fruit, vegetables, meat. After reaching the hut there may still be time to practise some knots.
Day 2-5: Snow and ice instruction on the Ball Glacier or near Ball Pass. You practise various kinds of belays and how to select a good route. Good cramponing techniques are emphasized, likewise knowing different methods of self-arresting and choosing the right methods for the conditions. You may undertake steep ice climbing with front-pointing or ten point crampon techniques. Weather assessment will be covered. Navigation, avalanche awareness and emergency survival are optional topics. For climbers who already have considerable rock experience the focus will be on snow and ice skills. In case weather confines you inside, Caroline Hut makes a good classroom.
Day 6 : You have the choice of testing your skills by crossing Ball Pass, or receiving more instruction before returning to Mount Cook village via the Tasman Valley. Please refer to full description of Ball Pass Crossing. Those electing to continue with an Intermediate Course can stay overnight at Unwin Hut (NZAC) at Mt. Cook (own cost and you need to organise your own dinner and breakfast).
Learn how to use your ice tools
Our introductory mountaineering courses are based at Caroline Hut. It is the only guide/operator-owned mountain hut in Aoraki Mount Cook National Park, and provides a high standard facility for professional instruction. The hut can be reached in 4-6 hours' walking from the road end (no aircraft required). The hut is at 1800m, so no time is wasted each day accessing snow and ice. With a wood-fired stove there are good heating and drying facilities. Caroline Hut provides the ideal base for an introduction to snow and ice skills.
4 or 6 days of introductory mountaineering include a climb of Peak 2222m/7290ft or Turner Peak 2341m/7680ft, and are sufficient to teach the basic skills of mountaineering. However, technical skills alone do not make a good mountaineer. This is why this course places emphasis on developing your abilities to anticipate potential hazards, to identify areas of risk and how to minimise them. The course introduces you to the skills needed to cross snow slopes safely and to attempt non-technical peaks.
Anybody who wants to get into serious alpine climbing should start with our Introductory Course to get a thorough grounding in the basics and ensure good crampon and ice-axe skills are developed at an early stage, before going on to our Intermediate Course. Those who have done a mountaineering course years ago and have had a break since using the skills learnt are recommended to use this course as an update and refresher before launching back into more advanced climbing. Professional mountain guides.
Participants for an Introductory Climbing Course need:
Alpine Recreation provides all technical mountaineering equipment at no extra charge, including boots. A detailed equipment list will be sent at time of booking.
We recommend to settle guiding dates well in advance since peak season times are often booked up. Please allow extra time in case you are held up in the mountains due to weather. Book now.
As our equipment check takes place at 8am on the morning of departure, you need to book accommodation in Tekapo the night before. After the tour, it is recommended to overnight in Tekapo again, or in Mount Cook. Accommodation options in Tekapo.
New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme will provide some assistance to visitors to New Zealand who are injured, but you are strongly advised to have full travel insurance to cover such things as your cancellation if an injury prevents you taking part on the trip; and medical insurance in case you become ill. More information re Accident Compensation. The New Zealand Alpine Club provides a good mountaineering specific travel insurance.
Anybody attempting a Ball Pass Crossing without a guide needs to be an experienced mountaineer. Caroline Hut is not available to unguided parties.