The short local Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course prepares ski or splitboard tourers or mountaineers and trampers for carrying out travel over glaciers. It covers all the alpine skills required for spring or summer mountain missions. A customised refresher is available for those who have covered these skills previously prior to embarking on a season’s adventuring.

Course Locations

Course Syllabus

New Zealand’s high glaciers also provide inspiring destinations for ambitious ski or splitboard tourers. These environments pose a number of hazards and all members of a team should be able to identify the risk factors and have the skills move safety around the terrain and be familiar with emergency self and companion crevasse rescue techniques.

Topics include:

• Glacier travel ropework including knots and hitches, equipment considerations for glacier travel, roping up for glacier travel
• Glacier geography, hazard identification and navigating glaciers.
• Snow anchors including skis/boards or snow stakes
• Abseiling and crevasse self-rescue
• Companion crevasse rescue including pulley systems and progress capture options

Glacier Travel and Crevasse Rescue Course Options

We offer a number of options The course duration depends on the number of participants.

For small groups (<2 people) we run a single field day usually accessed through Cardrona Ski Field. In summer, single-day refresher courses can be offered on roping and rescue skills based at the Wānaka crags.

For larger groups (3-4 people), we run a 1.5 day course including a practical field day preceded by a 3-hour evening session. This evening session demonstrates the theory of glacier travel, snow anchors and tools for crevasse rescue.

For larger groups (5+ people), we run a 2 day course using local crags and backcountry venues.

Prerequisites

Pricing and Dates

Duration: 1, 1.5 or 2 day course

Maximum ratio: 1:6

2025 Group dates:

Can’t make these dates? Get in touch to arrange alternative group dates or private courses.

2025 Group price: $590

Includes: GST, NZMGA certified guide, avalanche safety gear, and technical equipment, transport from Wānaka is provided for small groups. Excludes lunch and snacks, ski or splitboard touring equipment hire (available from MT Outdoors in Wānaka).

See Also