Avalanche Skills Course 2

The 4-day Avalanche Skills Course 2 (previously known as the Backcountry Avalanche Course) NZ Mountain Safety Council endorsed. This comprehensive course is the highest level of recreational avalanche course available in New Zealand. Four practical ski or splitboard touring accessed days will continue to build knowledge and management of avalanche risk including planning, danger assessment, terrain analysis, safe travels, and companion rescue.

Prerequisites

To attend this course you should have previously completed the Avalanche Skills Course 1 or have similar knowledge and experience.

It is also useful to have consolidated these skills on some self-led ski or splitboard touring trips in a variety of locations.

By the end of the course, you will be able to make decisions to safely travel in more challenging terrain and on multi-day trips away from a public avalanche forecast.

Itinerary

The course is predominately practical field days run as day trips from Wānaka. Venues include Treble Cone, the Pisa, Cardrona, and the Remarkables backcountry.

At the start of each, day the course will meet at the WMG Base (usually early during busy times of the season), or meet at a central Wānaka location, to head up to the snow.

Any theory will be covered at appropriate opportunities during the days.

The course usually returns to town as the ski fields close and wraps up by around 17:00 each day.

Avalanche Skills Course 2 Syllabus

We recommend revising the MSC Online Avalanche Course prior to attending this course. Especially if it has been a while since you attended an Avalanche Skills Course 1 or Avalanche Awareness Course.

The course syllabus includes:

Increasing understanding and identification of avalanche terrain and its effect on avalanche danger.
Understanding of how current and previous weather changes the snowpack and the effect of avalanche danger;
Information gathering from observations in the field and using this to adjust avalanche forecast and decision making;
Trip planning. Understanding and interpreting weather and avalanche forecasts and group management;
Route finding and navigation;
Safe travel techniques;
Avalanche small party companion rescue including more complex scenarios.

What to Expect

All participants must be equipped for background travel with suitable clothing, eyewear, and ski or splitboard touring equipment.

This includes avalanche safety gear including a shovel, transceiver, and probe. These can be provided if required.

Why a Wānaka Mountain Guides Avalanche Course?

All of our Avalanche Skills Courses 2 are delivered by Avalanche Risk Management Level 6 qualified mountain or ski guides. This is the highest level of professional avalanche qualification available in New Zealand. This demonstrates significant avalanche industry practical knowledge and experience in fields including guiding, ski patrol, and forecasting. This ensures that participants receive industry-leading instruction covering the latest techniques.

Pricing and Dates

Duration: 4 days

Maximum ratio: 1:4

2025 Dates:

If you can’t make the available dates, please get in touch to arrange alternative dates or private bookings.

2025 Price:

Group courses from $1290 per person (minimum 4 participants).

Includes: applicable taxes, NZMGA / IFMGA certified guide, compliance costs, avalanche safety gear, and transport from Wānaka.

Excludes: food, lift passes, touring equipment hire, and accommodation in Wānaka. Accommodation for participants on our trips and courses can be arranged at our Kea Lodge.

Participants require a Treble Cone lift pass for some days. For those without a season pass, a day touring lift ticket can bought on the morning for $75.