A course for learning how to backcountry ski on alpine touring equipment with the opportunity to learn avalanche terrain travel skills to keep you safer in the backcountry
Welcome to a classroom you will never forget, either of our private huts at Robrosa or Black Peak. This back country ski touring course combines a pure back country ski tour experience with the opportunity to learn the skills that you need to be safer in the back country. Route finding, uphill travel, skinning up and transitioning, basic avalanche concepts and more. Expect four days of intensive ski touring & back country snowboarding skills to get you moving in the back country this season.
Helicopter access brings you deep into the NZ back country. With our private huts located at 1750m, we get reliable snow right through until end of September & even into early October.
book now Pricing Skills Form
Prior to Start of Trip
Meet with your guide at the Aspiring Guides office on the evening (5:30pm) prior to departure. Your guide will check all your clothing and equipment required for the trip. Avalanche Equipment is issued and last minute purchases can be made. The weather forecast will be discussed and a plan made for the the following morning.
Day One
Drive to Wanaka Airport (10min) and fly by helicopter into Robrosa Hut in the Pisa Range. Alternatively spend the morning focusing on refreshing on avalanche theory before flying in later in the day in time for a short tour before arriving at the hut for dinner. Backpacks are light because sleeping bags, cooking gear and other necessities will already be in the hut.
Day Two & Three
Depending upon conditions, we may choose to ski the terrain right outside the hut door or wander further afield to the Cromwell Faces or Pisa Summit. There is a wide variety of terrain for all abilities. Focus will be on terrain analysis, identifying avalanche danger and route selection. Further skills for backcountry travel will be covered such as avalanche rescue, uphill travel, trip planning and navigation.
Day Four
Everything learned up to now will be applied for the trip from Robrosa to the Snow Farm and back to Wanaka. With challenging terrain the emphasis will be on choosing a safe route. Here you will get the perfect opportunity to test your decision making under the watchful eye of your experienced guide.
Fly in to our private hut with stunning views of the Southern Alps.
At 1750m above sea level Robrosa Hut is a skier and rider's paradise with vast ski touring and backcountry snowboarding terrain. Sleeping bags, lighting, cooking equipment, outside toilet and spectacular sunrises and sunsets supplied.
Topics will include:
- Use of ski and splitboard touring equipment
- Uphill travel techniques for skiers & splitboarders
- Assessing avalanche danger
- Terrain assessment, route selection and safe travel techniques
- Decision making in avalanche terrain
- Companion rescue; including group management, transceiver searching, probing and shovelling
- Mountain weather
- Navigation strategies
- Trip planning and preparation
At the end of the course you will be a competent member of a ski or splitboard touring group, being able to plan trips appropriate to the group and conditions and contribute to safe decision making.
Availability
| Trip Date | Available |
|---|---|
| July 11-14 | OPEN |
| July 25-28 | OPEN |
| August 10-13 | 3 spaces left |
| August 22-25 | OPEN |
| September 5-8 | OPEN |
| September 19-22 | OPEN |
| Require a minimum of 3pax to run at this price |
Pricing
| Client Ratio | Price |
|---|---|
| 1:1 | $6,950 |
| 1:2 | $3,850 pp |
| 1:3 up to 1:4 Group Rate | $2,750 pp |
What's included
- NZMGA qualified guide
- Helicopter access In to and Out of the hut on the first day
- all meals and energy snacks
- Any Avalanche Safety Equipment you require
- private hut with fireplace and bedding
- transport to and from the hangar
What's not included
Ski touring or Splitboard rental equipment can be sourced locally from providers.
Frequently asked questions
As a general rule: the more technically advanced / more complex the terrain - the lower the guide to client ratio. All professional mountain guides contracted to Aspiring Guides are qualified professionals and operate under the terrain guidelines issued by the New Zealand Mountain Guides Association.
Our maximum group size for introductory ski/snowboard backcountry tours or courses is typically 1 guide with 6 clients. We write this as 1:6 guide ratio. For ski snowboard touring in glaciated terrain this ratio is 1:4.
Equipment Detail
How can I say enough about this experience? The location: OMG simply stunning backdrop. The private Rob Rosa huts are well organised and, well, very private. The 15 minute heli ride in was pure joy and anticipation. The course: they delivered big tim...read more
Steve, Australia, Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Touring Course
