Completing a Course
If you’re planning to venture into New Zealand’s alpine backcountry, having a solid understanding of avalanche safety is essential.
Whilst online courses and reading are great to increase your knowledge of avalanches, a hands-on course is key to getting the practical skills and on-snow experience you need to travel in avalanche terrain safely.
The NZ Mountain Safety Council offers two Avalanche Skills Courses (ASC1 and ASC2), delivered by MSC endorsed providers, designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions in avalanche terrain. Whether you’re new to backcountry travel or looking to advance your skills, these courses provide practical training to help you stay safe and confident in the mountains.
The Avalanche Skills Course 1 (ASC1) is an introduction to handling avalanche conditions in New Zealand. It will guide you through making decisions about personal safety when travelling in avalanche terrain. The ASC1 is designed for individuals who would like to spend time travelling in an alpine environment, outside of ski area boundaries, but have little or no experience with the avalanche phenomenon. The course focuses on defining avalanches, understanding and interpreting the NZ Avalanche Advisory and weather forecast, personal preparation, route decision-making and rescue skills. It will suit those who are interested in learning about the basics of travelling in an alpine environment and those who may encounter low-angled snow and alpine terrain as part of a skiing, snowboarding, mountaineering, tramping, hunting, or other outdoor trip. The course covers an introduction to: ● Trip planning and preparation ● Defining the avalanche phenomenon ● Using the NZ Avalanche Advisory ● Weather, terrain, snowpack factors relating to avalanche conditions ● Safe travel techniques and decision-making in avalanche terrain ● Human factors and decision-making tools ● Avalanche rescue This course is taught over 1.5 - 2 days. The Avalanche Skills Course 2 (ASC2) is a continuation of learning for those who have participated in an Avalanche Skills Course 1 (Avalanche Awareness) and have built up some backcountry experience. It will continue to develop your decision-making skills around safety when travelling in avalanche terrain. The course will suit those who have a basic understanding of avalanche phenomena and spend time travelling in alpine terrain as part of tramping trips, hunting, mountaineering, skiing, snowboarding or other outdoor experiences. It is not for beginners entering the alpine environment. The course reinforces what was learnt in an Avalanche Skills Course 1 and expands on personal preparation, snow tests, snow metamorphism, route decision-making and rescue skills. It will suit those who are interested in progressing with their avalanche skills sets and are looking to gain knowledge to allow them to cautiously approach more challenging avalanche terrain when in the backcountry. This course focuses on: ● Trip planning and preparation ● Avalanche formation ● Weather, terrain, snowpack factors relating to avalanche conditions ● Basic snowpack metamorphism ● Using the NZ Avalanche Advisory ● Safe travel techniques and decision-making in avalanche terrain ● Snow tests ● Human factors and decision-making tools, including mindset ● Avalanche rescue This course is taught over 4 days, including time spent on snow in the backcountry.
Find a course provider near you
Find out where you can get the skills you need to travel in the backcountry. We’ve collated a list of potential providers below.
It is worth noting that these providers all deliver different services/products, they may not be available in the area you live, and they don’t necessarily deliver courses in all disciplines to all levels.
This list has been compiled by the NZ Mountain Safety Council (MSC) to assist you in finding a training course provider. It is not an exhaustive list of providers and there may be others you wish to contact. Providers listed below who are approved to deliver MSC ASC1 or ASC2 courses have this indicated. MSC recommends you undertake your own research in order to find a training course provider that suits you.
Central North Island
- Hillary Outdoors (ASC1 + ASC2)
- New Zealand Alpine Club (ASC1 + ASC2)
Canterbury
- Chill (ASC1 + ASC2)
- OENZ - Outdoor Education New Zealand Ltd (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Broken River (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Alpine Recreation (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Alpine Guides (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Anna Keeling Guiding Ltd (ASC1 + ASC2)
- New Zealand Alpine Club (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Canterbury Mountaineering Club (ASC1 + ASC2)
- New Zealand Snow Safety Institute (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Peel Forest Outdoor Centre (ASC1)
Wanaka + Queenstown
- Aspiring Guides (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Treble Cone Ski Area (ASC1)
- Crystal Clear Avalanche & Mountain Education
- Basecamp Adventures (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Queenstown Mountain Guides (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Vertical Resources (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Wanaka Mountain Guides (ASC1 + ASC2)
- Mountain Hut NZ (ASC1 + ASC2)
- NZSleds (ASC1)
- Summit Explorers (ASC1 + ASC2)
Are you a training provider and not on this list? Contact us to find out how you can be added.
Professional Avalanche Courses
- Otago Polytechnic / Adventure - NZ Avalanche Risk Management Level 5 (ARM L5) and Level 6 (ARM L6)
- Tai Poutini Polytechnic - ARM L5 offered as part of their ski patrol course, but not as a standalone course.