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| Mountaineering |
| Hiking, Backpacking |
| Semesters & Leadership |
| Rock Climbing |
| Ice Climbing |
| Avalanche Safety |
| Ski & Board |
| Private Guiding |
| Wilderness First Aid |
| About Us |
| Booking Information |
| Links |
| Japanese Site |
Canada - New Zealand Mountaineering Semesters
 Course Details
DATES -
PRICE -
PROGRAM OBJECTIVES
This is an absolutely unique program that gives unparalleled training in snow and ice
mountaineering as well as in ski mountaineering, rock climbing and the other skills
associated with the Mountain Skill Semester. LOCATION - CURRICULUM - CLIMATE - AGENDA INSTRUCTORS & GROUP SIZE - COURSE BREAK TRANSPORTATION - ACCOMMODATION & MEALS GEAR - INSURANCE - BOOKING The concept is to do the winter training in Canada where the waterfall iceclimbing and backcountry skiing is arguably the best in the world. In keeping with this theme we then transfer the group to New Zealand's Southern Alps where there are incredible opportunities for mountaineering training on high glaciated peaks. This combination of superlatives has worked extremely well in the past and we encourage you to consider this as an accelerated path towards mountaineering excellence. Dates 2001: January 3 – April 3 Price $14,000 CDN (approx. $9550US), cancellation insurance $840(c.$570US) includes GST, instruction, technical gear, group camping gear, meals, accommodation, transportation, Park Passes, return flight to New Zealand. 
Program ObjectivesThese are the same as for our wholly Canadian programs; namely to develop all round competence to an intermediate level across the spectrum of mountain skills with particular emphasis on snow and ice mountaineering. This to be in tandem with development of individual and group leadership skills. The New Zealand segment will further allow participants to learn about a different country and lifestyle and to deal with very different mountains. Transportation 
Local TransportationDuring the program all transportation is supplied. The group will have a minibus, which will be used to reach program areas. Travel to New Zealand Return airfare to from Calgary to Christchurch, New Zealand is included in the course cost*. All participants will be expected to travel to New Zealand together. It will be possible to customize return arrangements to allow for a longer stay in New Zealand, stopovers or different return destinations. This may cost extra. * For those joining us from outside North America an alternate plan is available. Travel Documents Canadian, US and EU citizens traveling on a valid passport, planning to stay less than three months do not require a visa. If there is any reason why admittance may be denied, call us to obtain the number of a NZ consulate where this might be checked beforehand. Curriculm Glacier mountaineering, rock climbing, kayaking, WMA Advanced First Aid, Advanced Recreational Avalanche Safety Certificate, ski mountaineering, waterfall ice climbing plus sessions in expedition planning, menu planning and packing, mountain navigation, environmental awareness and hazard evaluation. New Zealand Weather We go to NZ at the driest time of the summer and all our groups have encountered minimal amounts of bad weather. New Zealand has a maritime climate and the mountains are very close to the sea. Thus bad weather is always a possibility and flexibility will be maintained within the program to allow for this. Some down days may be experienced in the mountaineering sections. Sample Agenda 
Day 1: Welcome, introductions and dinner in Canmore.Day 2: Local Ski Tour. A chance to learn about and try out our ski touring gear and to make sure we're ready for the next section. Day 3 - 7: Five-day Back Country Ski Trip. It is on this segment that you will first learn the skills of outdoor living and winter traveling. This will be done on skis, though mainly on easy terrain. You will practice winter camping and shelter building as well as learn simple ski skills (telemark or randonnee). It is also where you first get to know and to work with your fellow participants. During the following weeks the group's ability to function well together will be crucial to the success of the program. Day 8: Day Off. A well-earned rest and the chance to do washing and to catch up on correspondence. 
Day 9 - 17: Waterfall Ice Climbing Waterfall climbing has a whole different ambiance from other types of climbing. The ropework is much the same but the setting is extraordinary. Roadside seeps and waterfalls suddenly become spectacular climbing challenges. The mental approach to ice climbing is different too. You have to fashion good mind control to climb steep ice smoothly and quickly. Initially you'll learn and review the knots and belays common to all climbing sections and you will learn basic ice climbing movement skills. Then you will quickly progress to days of practice and advanced skills including 'dry-tooling' and multi-pitch climbs of Canadian classics. Day 18.& 19: Days Off. Day 20 - 22: Ski Skills at Ski Area/Avalanche Awareness. Back on to skis! Work on ski skills for powder conditions then spend a little time in the classroom for introduction to and training in crucial avalanche awareness skills. Day 23 - 26: Wilderness Advanced First-Aid. A four-day certification program. The emphasis on this course is learning by doing. Realistic and continual simulations will ensure that lessons are well absorbed. This course is supplied by Wilderness Medical Associates and can later be built upon to obtain the longer Wilderness First Responder. Day 27: Day Off. Day 28: Preparation Day. Before you head off on the next multi-day trip you will spend a day preparing trip menus and packing your food and equipment. Whilst this may not seem important, if you are to continue doing trips in the outdoors, especially if leading groups, it is essential that you know all aspects of trip preparation. You will find that trip preparation gets easier each time. 
Day 29 - 34: Six-day Back Country Ski Trip To Rogers Pass. On this segment you will be spending more time at higher elevations where avalanche awareness is a must as is route finding and the other alpine skills; great powder skiing too! Rogers Pass is one of the premier backcountry ski areas in North America, famous for its exciting descents and deep Selkirk powder. Day 35: Day Off. Day 36 - 41: Glacier Ski Mountaineering Trip. Culmination of the ski section, this glacier ski mountaineering trip to the Wapta Icefields is where you begin on the high-altitude mountaineering skills common to both summer and winter. These include glacier travel and crevasse rescue as well as advanced navigation. High summits and long glacier descents in magnificent country, are happy by-products. Day 42 - 43: Days off, pack for New Zealand. Day 44: Depart for New Zealand. Day 45: Lost Crossing the Dateline! Day 46: Arrive Christchurch, NZ., You will be met and welcomed by our partners. Stay overnight in Christchurch.. 
Day 48: Travel to Wanaka.This small resort town, in the Southern Lakes region near Queenstown, is the perfect base for the NZ section of the program. It is also the base location for our partners in this Semester, Mount Aspiring Guides Ltd. The 5-hour drive from Christchurch is a highlight in itself. The coastal plains surrounding Christchurch are followed by grassy foothills with occasional small towns then you cross Burkes Pass into the arid high plains of the 'Mackenzie Country' with its huge sheep 'stations'. If the weather is good you probably wont be looking at the plains so much as the huge glaciated peaks looming on the horizon ... Mount Cook and the Southern Alps! You'll be visiting these peaks later in the program. Continuing south you pass the giant lakes of this region then cross Lindis Pass into the headwaters of the Clutha River, to Central Otago with its dry rocky hills. On arrival you'll be wanting to head straight to the Lake for a swim before settling into the group house. Day 48: Rest and recovery day in Wanaka. Day 49: Prep. First Trip. 
Day 50 - 55: Advanced Hike and Basic Mountaineering.Adjacent to Wanaka is spectacular Mount Aspiring National Park, named for the impressive white spire that dominates the region. It is a great area to first experience the Southern Alps. The objective of this trip will be to approach and climb some of the easier peaks in the area. This is not as simple as it sounds for Kiwi approaches can feature some very challenging terrain. Expect to encounter densely forested gorges, challenging river crossings and difficult route-finding. This will be an opportunity to practice the basic mountaineering skills of travel over rough terrain and use of crampons and ice axe. After this trip you'll quickly realize why New Zealanders have done so well on the Eco-Challenge! Day 56: Day Off. Your chance to take in some sights or even sample some of the other adventure activities for which NZ is famous. 
Day 57 - 72: Glacier Mountaineering and Rock Climbing.The mountain weather in NZ can be quite variable. To maintain maximum flexibility we may combine these two activities so as to maximize learning possibilities. When the weather is good it is important to get high onto the glaciers and take advantage of it. On the other hand when weather on the high peaks is bad it's often possible to move downwind into the rain shadow areas and work on rock climbing skills. A couple of bad weather days will give you a needed rest. The rock climbing will be an intensive study in solid basic technique. Good rope skills will be emphasized - rescue, knots, lowering, rappel - in addition to full-on rock climbing. NZ mountains are much more heavily glaciated than their Canadian Rockies counterparts and mountaineering is a serious endeavor, which will fully use the skills developed in Canada and NZ. Two venues may be used to give variety of terrain. All round competence to safely travel and climb on heavily glaciated peaks is the objective. Ski planes or helicopters will be used for high glacier access if weather permits. All aspects of glacier mountaineering will be covered: movement on snow, ice and mixed terrain, use of ice axes and crampons, glacier travel and crevasse rescue, anchor building and rope use. You'll also climb some of the most beautiful peaks on Earth! 
Day 73: Day Off.Day 74 - 81: Kayaking section. New Zealand has great kayaking and this section will give you a break from the mountains. The pace will be different and you'll learn some new and exciting skills. There will be a constant learning progression including skills such as rolling, the various paddle strokes and river rescue. We plan to use the scenic rivers that feed into Lake Wanaka. There will be a rest day mid-section. Day 82 - 90: Final Expedition. Where it all comes together! The group will, in nine days, show off skills acquired in the previous 82 days. All this in a truly magnificent wilderness venue, which will require fitness, thought, teamwork and all the 'tech' tricks too. The objective will be either an alpine traverse in the Southern Alps or climbs of major peaks in the Mount Cook region. Day 91: Debrief, Final Banquet. 
Day 92: Semester ends. We strongly suggest you allow for an extra couple of days to allow for late finish of the Final Expedition dueto bad weather. Transport back to Christchurch can easily be arranged for you. We can arrange your flights so that you can stay longer in New Zealand. 
Instructors And Group SizeYamnuska is proud to work with many of the very best instructors and guides and the caliber of our staff differentiates us from our competition. In addition to being certified by the Association of Canadian Mountain Guides and by the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association our staff are top, often famous, climbers who themselves set the pace in the field of mountaineering. Instructors on the first-aid and kayaking sections possess valued credentials in their fields also. Minimum group size is 6, maximum is 12. Most sections will have two instructors with extra instructors joining the group for the ice, rock and mountaineering sections as needed. Transportation During the program all transportation is supplied. Each group has a passenger van that is used to reach program areas. During evenings and on free days, transportation is not supplied. 
Accommodation and MealsDuring the Canadian segment the group will be based, between sections, at the Alpine Club of Canada Clubhouse. This comfortable hostel features bunk room sleeping areas plus communal living, cooking and washing facilities. It also has a coin operated laundromat, a sauna and storage lockers where excess belongings can be left. It is located 3km from downtown Canmore. When between sections in NZ you will be based in a house in Wanaka within walking distance of o shops, restaurants and the lakefront. When out on the various sections you will be staying in tents, mountain huts, remote hostels and even snow shelters! All accommodation costs are included. All food is supplied except on Days 47, 48 & 49 and on 'Days Off' in NZ (many cafeterias or you can buy and prepare your own). Since this program is about developing all-round mountain and outdoor skills you will be involved in menu planning, food packing for trips and meal preparation. The exception to this will be in Canmore, where on the first night back from a section a fully-prepared meal will be supplied. The food will be healthy and nutritious with an emphasis on simplicity. Do not expect a lavish menu but also do not expect to starve, you will eat well. Allowance will be made for vegetarian diets but we may not, particularly on the NZ segment be able to cater to more difficult diets. Food in Canada will be largely North American in style whilst in NZ expect a slightly different flavor. Participants are expected to adapt to the local food, which is essentially little different from that in Canada save that many fruits will be in season. Course Break Regular days off are scheduled throughout the program and they are often followed by less demanding preparation days. 
Equipment and ClothingAll group camping and all technical gear is supplied with the exception of ski gear and climbing boots. Reasonably priced climbing boot rentals can be arranged during the course but you must let us know in advance if you require ski gear. You will need to bring your own outdoor clothing and footwear, backpack, sleeping bag and ski gear. A full list of what to bring will be sent to you on booking. Insurance Whilst in NZ you are covered for the cost of rescue and for the medical and other costs associated with accidental injury. You will need basic illness coverage however. In Canada you will need insurance to cover you for those costs not covered by your existing health plan. Booking Information To apply for this semester click below, download the application form, complete it after reading the conditions of registration and mail or fax to Yamnuska. alternatively you can call to book by phone. Click here for Application Form . Along with all relevant receipts we will send you a full trip logistical kit (containing meeting times, a list of what to bring and info on how to get here) and a sample copy of our waiver which we will ask you to sign when you meet us. |
Mountaineering ·
Hiking, Backpacking ·
Semesters & Leadership ·
Rock Climbing ·
Ice Climbing ·
Avalanche Safety
Ski & Board · Private Guiding · Wilderness First Aid · About Us · Booking Information · Links · Japanese Site
Ski & Board · Private Guiding · Wilderness First Aid · About Us · Booking Information · Links · Japanese Site
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Yamnuska Inc. Suite 200 Summit Centre, 50 - 103 Bow Valley Trail, Canmore, Alberta, Canada, T1W 1N8 Tel: +1 403 678 4164 · Fax: +1 403 678 4450 · E-mail: info@yamnuska.com |