MSC Accredited
Avalanche Skills Course 2
Learn essential snow safety skills on a Backcountry Avalanche Course
Alpine Instruction Courses Winter Adventures Ski Two Thumb Range Backcountry Skills CoursesMSC Avalanche Skills Course 2
MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2
Practical Avalanche Safety & Terrain Management for Experienced Backcountry Travellers
Learn how to analyse the snowpack, assess slope stability and develop safe travel techniques with expert tuition from avalanche professionals!
Previously known as Backcountry Avalanche Course; this is a New Zealand Mountain Safety Council (MSC) accredited course, with a formal assessment and Certificate of Completion. It is designed for people who are already competent skiers and snowboarders who wish to travel beyond the bounds of a ski field.
This course focuses on giving you the tools to assess avalanche conditions and make your own decisions based on the evidence you find in the mountains. It covers an extended range of skills, including identifying when the weather is creating an instability, what snowpack factors lead to stability versus instability, and how to identify and test for them. Small group search and rescue skills are also included.
We will be based at Rex Simpson Hut in the Two Thumb Range, an ideal location for practising your route selection and decision-making with regards to avalanche hazard.
Penny Goddard's book "Avalanche Awareness in the New Zealand Backcountry", and other MSC course materials are provided.
The MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2 is an advanced, five-day field-based program designed for experienced backcountry travellers who have completed Avalanche Skills Course 1, a Backcountry Ski Course, a Winter Mountaineering Course (or have equivalent experience).
Set in the snow-covered Two Thumb Range, this course deepens your understanding of avalanche terrain, snowpack stability, and risk management. Through a combination of indoor and outdoor learning and intensive on-snow practice, you'll refine your terrain assessment, route planning, and companion rescue techniques.
This course is ideal for backcountry skiers, split-boarders, and mountaineers ready to make more informed, confident decisions in complex avalanche conditions.
Why Do This Course with Alpine Recreation?
✓ True Backcountry Experience: Train in a genuine backcountry environment at Rex Simpson Hut in the Two Thumb Range — not just on the fringes of a ski area. Avoid the crowds and lift queues of Wanaka and Queenstown.
✓ Immersive Learning: Spend five full days living and learning in avalanche terrain, with immediate access to real-world snow conditions.
✓ Small Group Sizes: Get personalised instruction and in-depth feedback with a low guide-to-participant ratio (maximum 1:6).
✓ Expert Instruction: Learn from experienced, professional NZMGA guides with MSC avalanche certification and extensive avalanche forecasting and field expertise.
✓ Great Terrain: The Two Thumb Range offers reliable winter snowpack and ideal terrain variety for progressive learning.
✓ Comfortable Base: Stay warm and well-fed at our private hut, purpose-built for alpine courses, allowing for efficient transitions between theory and fieldwork — no time is wasted with daily commutes between town and ski area.
✓ Field-Tested Skills: Practice companion rescue, terrain management, and snowpack assessment in real backcountry avalanche terrain — far from ski area crowds and tracked out slopes.
✓ Accredited Certification: Receive a nationally recognised MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2 certificate upon completion.
Rex Simpson Hut
Rex Simpson Hut sits at an altitude of 1300m in the Two Thumb Range. It is located in a beautiful setting, with great views of the Southern Alps and vistas over Lake Tekapo across the Mackenzie Basin. It is a fantastic location for star gazing - the Mackenzie District is renowned for the clarity of its sky and freedom from light pollution, which is why the area was recently designated as an International Dark Sky Reserve.
Privately Owned
The Hut is privately owned by Alpine Recreation and is an ideal base for backcountry skiing with ready access to a range of slopes suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers. It is our base for the Tekapo High Country Hike in Summer and Alpine Ski Touring, Nordic Skiing, Snowshoeing and Instruction Courses during the winter.
Easy Access
No aircraft required: The hut can be reached in 3 hours walking from the road end and is located at 1300m, in a beautiful setting, with great views of the Southern Alps and out over Lake Tekapo across the Mackenzie Basin.
Fully Equipped
The hut is equipped with firewood, gas, solar lighting, sleeping bags, bunks, pillows and mattresses, and nonperishable food. A wood-fired stove means there are good heating and drying facilities.
Facilities
The hut consists of three rooms, sleeping up to 13 participants and 2 guides in total. There are no showers, but warm water and a basin can be provided for washing or you can find a private spot somewhere along the alpine stream. The toilet is a traditional longdrop loo with a view!
This course builds on foundational avalanche knowledge with advanced field-based training in snowpack assessment, terrain evaluation, and safe decision-making.
You'll gain the practical skills and confidence needed to plan and undertake backcountry tours in avalanche terrain.
Advanced Avalanche Decision-Making
- In-depth analysis of avalanche types and snowpack layers
- Snow stability tests including compression tests and extended column tests
- Identifying red flags and managing uncertainty in the field
Terrain Management and Safe Travel
- Terrain classification and risk assessment using the ATES model
- Planning and executing safe routes through avalanche-prone terrain
- Group management, spacing, and safe travel techniques
Avalanche Forecast Interpretation
- Integrating New Zealand Avalanche Advisory forecasts into daily planning
- Recognising weather factors influencing avalanche hazard
- Using trip planning tools and checklists for structured decision-making
Rescue Techniques and Emergency Response
- Companion rescue training with multiple burial scenarios
- Fine search techniques and probe line strategy
- Efficient team shovelling strategies and techniques
- Improvised emergency shelters and basic first aid in avalanche incidents
Human Factors and Group Dynamics
- Understanding heuristic traps and group decision-making errors
- Techniques to manage communication and leadership under pressure
- Debriefing and applying lessons from field scenarios
Real-World Field Experience
- Hands-on practice in the Two Thumb Range backcountry
- Daily backcountry touring with route planning and hazard analysis
- Guided instruction and feedback from experienced avalanche professionals
This immersive, five-day course is ideal for backcountry skiers, split-boarders, and alpinists looking to take their avalanche safety skills to the next level. It combines structured learning with real-time decision-making in New Zealand’s dynamic mountain environment.
We recommend settling 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.
| Dates | Spaces |
|---|---|
| 28 Jul 2025 - 1 Aug 2025 | 6 |
| 4 - 8 Aug 2025 | 6 |
| 8 - 11 Aug 2025 | N/A private group |
| 16 - 20 Aug 2025 | 6 |
| 25 - 29 Aug 2025 | 3 guaranteed departure |
| 1 - 5 Sep 2025 | 6 |
| 6 - 10 Sep 2025 | 4 guaranteed departure |
| 15 - 19 Sep 2025 | 6 |
| 22 - 26 Sep 2025 22 September 2025 South Canterbury Day | 6 |
| Updated: 27 May 2025 at 10:06 am | |
Standard bookings
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for 5% off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Standard Price | 4 days price per person | 5 days price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Individual bookings group size | NZ$2035 2 - 6 per guide * | NZ$2035 3 - 6 per guide * |
Please read the information on minimum and maximum group sizes below.
Private bookings
Private guide: book a guide just for you and benefit from a completely custom itinerary.
Loyalty discount: If you have been on an Alpine Recreation trip before, you will be eligible for 5% off the standard trip price (does not apply to any already discounted prices).
| Private Guide Price | 4 days price per person | 4 days price per person | 5 days price per person | 5 days price per person | 5 days price per person | 5 days price per person |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private booking group size | NZ$2280 2 per guide | NZ$3265 1 per guide | NZ$2280 3 per guide | NZ$2000 4 per guide | NZ$1900 5 per guide | NZ$1900 6 per guide |
Deposit Payment
A non-refundable per-person deposit is payable to secure a booking:
- NZ$500.00
The remaining balance of the trip price (including any applicable discounts) is due 60 days prior to departure. If you are booking within 60 days of the trip start, the full amount will be due.
Booking conditionsInclusions & Exclusions
All prices include the following:
- IFMGA / NZMGA certified ski / split-board guide
- Department of Conservation licence fees
- Heated PRIVATE hut accommodation
- Local accommodation for any nights required during the course
- Ground transport (Tekapo - Mt. Gerald return)
- ALL meals (including snacks & energy bars) for the duration of the course
- Avalanche Awareness handbook covering course material
The following items are NOT included:
- Meals and accommodation before/after the course are NOT included.
Minimum & Maximum Group Size
A minimum number of 2 participants is required to run this trip. If you end up being the only person booked on the trip, you will be offered the choice of:
- paying an additional fee to run the trip at a reduced guide-to-guest ratio
( NZ$1,150.00 for 4 days, NZ$1,150.00 for 5 days ) - rescheduling to another trip/date
- a full refund
A maximum number of 6 participants per guide is defined by our safety management plan. For groups larger than this, it is usually possible to allocate additional guides.
Optional Extras
The following books are available for purchase at time of booking:
Avalanche Awareness in the New Zealand Backcountry
2nd Edition 2013
Difficulty Ratings
Endurance: 3 - Challenging
A solid level of fitness with aerobic training prior to the trip is expected. Ability to carry moderate to heavy backpacks (8-10kg) for 6-9 hours if required. Expect ascents of 800-1200 vertical meters. Some discomfort expected due to long days and exposure to elements. Prior multi-day hiking/trekking/tramping trips through rough untracked terrain are recommended.
Agility: 2 - Basic scrambling agility
Some scrambling, using hands for balance. Some loose scree descents, slippery grass, mud or snow. Crampons/ice axe not expected, but may be used if conditions are icy. Some exposure to heights at times.
Technical Ski Ability: 2 - Intermediate off-piste skier / snowboarder
Used to skiing off-piste with a pack in the majority of snow conditions and competent in the skills of of side-slipping, traversing and downhill kick-turning. Able to ski in control on steeper slopes with short sections up to 30°. Limited or no previous backcountry ski / split-board experience. Borrowed or rented equipment. Learning how to kick-turn uphill and use equipment safely and efficiently.
Trip Difficulty Ratings - more infoPrevious Experience
To get the most out of the MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2, participants should have:
- Previous Avalanche Training: Completion of MSC Avalanche Skills Course 1 (ASC1), Backcountry Ski Course (BSC), a Winter Mountaineering Course or equivalent is recommended. You should already be familiar with basic avalanche concepts, transceiver use, and simple terrain management.
- Backcountry Experience: Prior experience travelling in alpine or backcountry environments (e.g. ski touring, split-boarding, tramping, mountaineering, or hunting) is expected. You should be comfortable moving in variable snow conditions and managing yourself in remote mountain terrain.
- Skiing or Split-boarding Ability: Intermediate to advanced skills are required. You must be able to ascend using touring equipment and descend off-piste terrain confidently in a variety of snow conditions.
- Physical Fitness: A high level of fitness is necessary. You’ll be carrying a pack and touring 4–8 hours per day in alpine terrain, often in winter conditions. Participants should be capable of sustained physical effort over multiple days.
If you’re unsure whether this course is the right level for you, we’re happy to discuss your background and recommend a suitable option.
Recommended Fitness Training
This course involves multiple full days in alpine terrain, often in deep snow, carrying a pack, and operating in cold, high-altitude conditions. Preparing your body ahead of time will not only improve your performance but make the course more enjoyable and less fatiguing. Here’s how to train effectively:
1. Cardiovascular Endurance
Build your aerobic base with activities like:
- Hiking or tramping with a loaded pack (8–12kg) on uneven terrain
- Trail running, cycling, or rowing for 45–90 minutes, 3–4 times per week
- Ski touring or split-boarding if possible in advance of the course
Goal: Sustain moderate to high-intensity effort for 6–8 hours with minimal fatigue.
2. Strength & Power
Focus on functional, full-body strength:
- Leg strength: Squats, lunges, step-ups, and deadlifts (2–3x/week)
- Core stability: Planks, Russian twists, and leg raises
- Upper body: Push-ups, pull-ups, and shoulder strengthening (important for carrying a pack and digging in snow)
Goal: Move efficiently uphill with a pack and dig in firm or icy snow without tiring quickly.
3. Balance and Agility
Navigating uneven, snow-covered terrain requires good coordination:
- Practice agility drills, balance exercises (e.g. balance board), and downhill hiking with a pack
- Integrate single-leg movements and core stability into your strength sessions
4. Snow-Specific Skills
If you have access to snow before the course:
- Practice using your touring gear: skinning uphill, kick turns, transitions
- Build comfort in variable snow and steep terrain
- Revisit transceiver, shovel, and probe use through self-directed practice or refreshers
5. Altitude and Cold Conditioning
While the course is not at extreme altitudes, expect cold, exposed conditions:
- Train outdoors in cold weather when possible
- Do multi-hour sessions with your full kit to simulate course days
Start Training Early:
Begin your training plan at least 6–8 weeks before the course. Progress gradually and aim for at least one full-day hike or tour per week in the final month leading up to the course.
With strong fitness and familiarity in alpine movement, you'll gain much more from the technical instruction and real-time decision-making that MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2 offers.
| Gear Check | Start Time | End Time |
|---|---|---|
| 6:00 pm | 8:30 am | 5:00 pm |
Pre-trip Evening – Gear Check & Course Briefing
The evening before departure, we meet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo, for a full gear check, ensuring everyone is properly outfitted for backcountry travel and winter conditions. This is also an opportunity to meet your guide and fellow participants, discuss the course outline, and review safety protocols, packing tips, and logistics for the days ahead.
You need to bring your own alpine touring boots, but otherwise we can provide all other equipment. Please see the equipment section for details.
First Day – Approach & Avalanche Refresher
Meet at Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo.
From Lake Tekapo township we drive along the lakeshore to the head of Lake Tekapo. 3 hours hike / ski with a climb of 550m brings us to the cosy Rex Simpson Hut, at 1300m in the Two Thumb Range. Depending on snow levels, you will often be able to use skis and skins from about half-way to the hut, but other times you may need to carry the skis until the last 800m - 1km before the hut.
After settling in to the hut and getting oriented, the afternoon is spent refreshing essential avalanche rescue skills, including the use of transceivers, shovels, and probes. The day concludes with an evening session covering key avalanche concepts from ASC1, and an introduction to interpreting avalanche forecasts and mountain weather.
Subsequent Days – Skills Instruction
Depending on the weather and snow conditions each day, your guide will structure the course content to suit, making the most of fine weather to be outside in the field.
You will apply learned skills progressively in increasingly complex avalanche terrain — preparing you to make safe, informed decisions on your future backcountry adventures.
Example days are as follows:
Snowpack Analysis & Terrain Introduction Day
- Morning field session: snowpack layering, compression tests, and extended column tests
- Identifying weak layers and red flags in snow conditions
- Afternoon touring: safe travel techniques, terrain recognition, spacing and group movement
- Evening discussion: trip planning and field observations
Avalanche Rescue & Decision-Making in Complex Terrain Day
- Multi-burial transceiver searches and probe line tactics
- Companion rescue drills with realistic timing and stress simulation
- Route selection through moderate to challenging avalanche terrain
- Evening session: human factors and decision-making traps
Route Planning & Advanced Terrain Management Day
- Full-day backcountry tour with participant-led route planning
- Apply terrain assessment tools (e.g. ATES, slope angle recognition)
- Decision-making under changing weather/snowpack conditions
- Field debrief and feedback on choices made during the day
- Evening planning for final day tour
Last Day – Consolidation Tour & Course Wrap-Up
The final day is focused on applying everything you’ve learned in a participant-led backcountry tour. You'll plan and execute the route as a group, assessing terrain, evaluating snow conditions, and making real-time decisions under the guidance of your instructor. This is your opportunity to demonstrate your understanding of terrain management, safe travel techniques, and group communication in avalanche terrain.
After the morning tour, the group returns to Rex Simpson Hut for a comprehensive debrief and final discussion. In the afternoon, you'll walk out to Mt Gerald Station and return to Lake Tekapo, where the course concludes with a Q&A session and presentation of your MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2 certificate.
MSC Avalanche Skills Course 2 - Clothing & Equipment Checklist
Your gear check time will be provided at time of booking. Please bring as many of the items on the equipment list as you can. We can provide (at no extra charge), any of the items in list A that you are missing. Reminder: all food is provided.
Please note that you must bring your own alpine ski touring boots, or if you need to hire them, please see below.*1 All other ski and avalanche safety equipment is provided. Sleeping bags, mattresses, pillows and hut shoes are at the hut. We provide you with a sleeping bag liner and pillow case (if you have your own sleeping bag liner, please bring it).
*1 Ski touring boots & split-boarding gear: these can be hired from: Gnomes Alpine Sports, Darfield; Small Planet Sports, Queenstown; or MT Outdoors, Wanaka. Book any hire equipment well in advance.
*2 Blister kit: we recommend Compeed and Leukoplast - available at chemists in Christchurch, Queenstown and Wanaka.
A. Equipment which Alpine Recreation can provide if you do not have your own:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| avalanche safety equipment transceiver, shovel, probe | 1 |
| backpack - 45L must have side tension straps | 1 |
| buff / sun scarf for protecting ears & neck | 1 |
| headlamp with spare battery | 1 |
| hiking boots | 1 |
| lightweight polypro / fleece gloves | 1 |
| polypro / merino thermal leggings | 2 |
| ski touring equipment (excluding boots) skis with touring bindings, poles, skins, ski crampons | 1 |
| snow gaiters to fit over ski boots or built-in gaiters in your ski pants | 1 |
| sun hat | 1 |
| synthetic / fleece jacket | 1 |
| waterproof hard-shell pants full-length zip | 1 |
| waterproof pack liner to keep your gear dry | 1 |
| waterproof parka must have a hood | 1 |
| wool hat / balaclava | 1 |
| woollen socks | 2 |
B. Equipment you must bring yourself/Alpine Recreation do not provide:
| Item | Quantity |
|---|---|
| alpine ski touring boots with removable liners for easy drying | 1 |
| camera | 1 |
| down jacket | (optional) 1 |
| drink bottle / thermos flask wide-mouth, minimum 1 litre | 1 |
| ear plugs in case of snorers | 1 |
| personal first aid please provide your own blister kit | 1 |
| personal underwear | 1 |
| quick-drying shirt long-sleeved, for sun protection | 1 |
| small dry bags for organising gear | 1 |
| snow goggles | 1 |
| soft-shell pants | (optional) 1 |
| split-boarding equipment split-board, boots, poles, skins, split-board crampons | 1 |
| sun and lip screen high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| sun glasses high UV rating for snow | 1 |
| toiletries please keep these to a minimum | 1 |
How do I make a booking?
Simply click on Book Your Adventure, fill out the enrolment form, and pay your deposit fee. Once you have submitted your completed enrolment form and we have received your deposit payment, we will confirm your reservation on the trip. You will receive a formal confirmation receipt by email.
Your scheduled dates don't work for me - what should I do?
Please contact us with your available dates. We may be able to accommodate your request.
What happens if we have really bad weather?
New Zealand's weather is notoriously fickle. It is possible you could be delayed getting into or out of the mountains due to the weather. For this reason, we recommend leaving 1-2 days spare at the end of your trip to avoid disruption to other travel plans. Your guide will endeavour to provide alternative activities/venues to give you the best possible experience. In some cases, if all participants and the guide have flexibility with time, it may be an option to postpone the whole trip by a day (however we cannot guarantee this option and it is at the discretion of the guide).
In many cases, the weather may not be as bad as the forecast might lead you to believe - please remember that we are used to dealing with New Zealand's weather on a regular basis and know where to go and what to do to make the most of it!
Please see our Bad Weather Policies for more information.
What ski/split-board equipment do I need to bring?
Please refer to the clothing and equipment checklist in the Equipment section. Any technical equipment you need to borrow (including skis, skins, poles, etc.) is provided FREE OF CHARGE and will be issued by your guide at the gear check. Please note that we cannot provide alpine ski touring boots (or split-board setups) and you will need to bring your own.
Do I need travel insurance?
In the case of an accident, New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC) will cover the majority of costs (about 80%) involved with evacuation and injury treatment, even for visitors to New Zealand. However, we strongly recommend taking out travel insurance, as you still need cover for things such as cancellation if an injury prevents you taking part on the trip, or a close relative suddenly becomes ill; and medical insurance in case you become ill. Many standard travel insurance policies DO NOT cover high-risk adventure activities so be sure to check the wording of your policy.
More information on New Zealand's Accident Compensation scheme (ACC).
Recommended insurance providers:
→ New Zealand Alpine Club provides mountaineering specific insurance options for New Zealand or Australian residents.
→ Austrian Alpine Club provides world-wide rescue and repatriation insurance to members.
→ World Nomads provides travel insurance for guided adventure activities.
→ Insure4less provides cover for a selection of high-risk activities for Australian residents.
Where is the best place to stay in Lake Tekapo before/after my trip?
Alpine Recreation provides accommodation at Edelweiss Lodge, 8 Erebus Place, Lake Tekapo. This is also where your gear check takes place before departure. It is recommended you book the nights before and after your trip here to facilitate the gear check and to allow flexibility in case of any delay in trip start due to weather. To book your nights, simply answer the relevant questions on your trip booking form.
→ Other Lake Tekapo Accommodation recommendations. We strongly recommend that you book your accommodation well in advance, as Tekapo is a popular tourist destination and options become limited during peak season.
Where can I park my car?
Secure off-street parking is available by Alpine Recreation's Edelweiss Lodge. Please leave your car keys with us (in case we have to move your vehicle if someone is parked in and so you don't lose your keys on the mountain!).
What do I do with my spare gear while on the trip?
We have a gear storage room at Edelweiss Lodge for you to leave any spare bags or gear while you are on your trip.
