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General Climbing Discussion

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NZSSI mountaineering courses 18-Mar-2008 At 12:15:23 PM deadbudgy

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I did the technical mountaineering course at Mt Cook with the Alpine Guides. The guide, Bill, was an absolute ledgend. We stayed at Kelman hut up in the mountains for a week which meant you can't go anywhere without walking on the glacier (Tasman?). You get pretty good at glacier travell when you do it every day for a week. There is iceclimbing on the glacier and many snow and rock (?) routes nearby to practise skills that we went through at night. Also, you get to ride in a plane with skiis and a helicopter.
There is no cook though and you each take it in turns to prepare a meal. Major downside was the ammonia levels in the toilet at kelman hut. It stung your eyes and was bad news for wheezy asthmatics like myself. It was almost worth taking the walk to Tasman hut just to take a crap (toilet there is best in the park apparently).
I would definitely recomend the course. Even though we have no mountains in OZ it will up your confidence levels and ability and you will definitely learn some new tricks to make your rock climbing better.