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Topic Date User

Searching for ice climbing mentor/partner 19-Apr-2014 At 1:41:56 PM Damien Gildea

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Fixed courses are convenient to organise but are badly subject to the vagaries of weather, even more so in NZ. Any of the main NZ companies are fine for their courses. None will be terrible, but it's a people-business and you will get on better with, and learn more from, some guides than others, depending on you and your situation.

It's actually much better to get together with one or two mates of similar experience and hire a guide privately to give you instruction and take you out. You're not so subject to the random levels and personalities of a course group and a small rope of two or three is much more flexible in moving to take advantage of weather and conditions, plus you learn faster as you get more time with the guide and s/he can tailor it all to your situation. It costs more upfront, but is better value in the end.