Mountaineering Skills Course

Ever wanted to learn how to rock climb?

I don't mean in a climbing gym. I mean outdoors on real rock, using ropes, harnesses and setting your own protection...the real deal?

Well, if you're like many people, you have probably thought it's too hard, too complex, too dangerous and will take way to long to learn...

Well, well. This is all about to change. Enter the Rock Climbing Skills Course by Rossfit. A 6-Day 'Zero to One Hundred' climbing course...actually, probably not the best analogy for rock climbing ;) But you get what I mean. During the 6-day course you will be taken from zero outdoor rock climbing experience, to confidently leading up multi-pitch trad and sport climbing routes, on real rock, in the great outdoors. You will know what to do, and how to do it safely and with confidence.

COURSE DETAILS

This custom-designed mountaineering course has been designed to take a beginner mountaineer (with little to no experience on technical alpine and glaciated terrain) and arm them with all the essential skills to be confident and able to operate in an alpine environment. Prior rock climbing experience is required to attend this course - see 'Prerequisites' below for details. The Mountaineering Skills Course forms part of the build-up training for the Rossfit team climbing Ama Dablam and Cholatse in the Himalayas in Sep 2024. More info on that expedition here.

The skills you will learn on the 9-Day Mountaineering Skills course include:

• Knots and hitches for mountaineering
• Snow and ice climbing
• Abseiling, belay techniques and rope systems
• Snow, ice and rock anchors
• Glacier travel and crevasse rescue
• Route finding and mountain navigation
• Emergency shelters
• Mountain weather and forecasting
• Basic avalanche hazard evaluation
• Glacier travel on fixed line and basic self-rescue system

Location: Tasman Glacier, Mt. Cook region, New Zealand.

Dates: 3-11 March 2024

Investment: $6,150

Prerequisites: Outdoor rock climbing experience (multi-pitch climbing - leading at or above grade 12 (trad) or grade 14 (sport), confident performing multi-pitch abseil on vertical rocky terrain (with and without the aid of a prusik) OR have completed the 6-Day Rock Climbing Skills course.

Course includes: 9 days of full instruction by certified alpine climbing instructor/s, most climbing equipment, helicopter insertion/extraction to/from Tasman glacier, food and accommodation

Not included: Flights/transport to/from Mt Cook village, accommodation before/after the course, personal climbing gear (harness, helmet, mountaineering boots), hiking/camping gear/clothing.

Rossfit takes groups of well-trained and well-prepared adventurers on expeditions and treks around the world. In late 2024 the next series of treks/expeditions take off to the Himalayas, and this course will serve as an important skills-development step in the build-up training for the climbers going up Ama Dablam and Cholatse in the Nepalese Himalayas. Learn more about these expeditions here.

* If you are unsure if you have the necessary prerequisites for this course, or if you have any other questions, you can contact Ross at ross@rossfit.net / 0401 137 347.