Contents
Snowcraft 2018 Is Coming !!
Purpose
Snowcraft is a thorough introductory-level course on techniques required for moving safely and efficiently in an alpine environment. It is ideal for people with some tramping experience, a solid fitness base and a desire to learn more about travelling in the snow and mixed conditions.
Successfully completing Snowcraft qualifies you for going on WTMC ALP1 trips. The course runs over two weekends at the club lodge on Mount Ruapehu; the weekends for 2018 are 6th to 8th and 2oth to 22nd July. You must also be available for three Wednesday night sessions; all of which are between 1 and 2 hours each. See below for dates and venues.
Enrolling
Snowcraft is aimed at people with some outdoor experience and an interest in trans-alpine tramping and / or climbing.
To enrol you must:
- be a member of WTMC; and,
- fill out an application form and pay the course fee; and,
- have a reasonable degree of fitness (eg regularly do medium grade trips); and,
- have some familiarity with tramping, in New Zealand or overseas
It is expected that students enrolling:
- will have limited or no experience using crampons and an ice axe; or,
- want to refresh their crampon and ice axe skills after a period of not using them; or
- want to consolidate their informal learning of alpine movement techniques
Structure
Snowcraft includes instruction on:
- clothing and equipment
- shelter
- food and hydration
- weather
- navigation and route selection
- moving on snow and ice without technical aids
- moving on snow and ice with ice axe and crampons
- alpine hazards
- leadership, decision making and risk management.
The course does not cover the use of ropes and related technical climbing equipment.
Delivery
Snowcraft is run by experienced WTMC members. The instructors are volunteers experienced in the alpine environment; not professional instructors with formal teaching qualifications.
While instructors will make every effort to look out for your health and safety, this is primarily your responsibility. You cannot use our Snowcraft course as credits for any NCEA or other educational programme. If you want to do a professionally run course contact a guiding company.
Gear
To do Snowcraft, you must have your own:
- solid tramping boots that can take crampons
- water-proof & wind-proof raincoat and over-trousers
- gloves – lots of them
- sunglasses (and preferably goggles too)
- lots of warm clothes
- compass and whistle
Gear will be covered during the first session on the course.
The club has ice axes, crampons and helmets available for hire at a small cost.
Other gear you should take is listed on ‘what to take on a trip‘.
Dates
We run Snowcraft every winter from our Club Lodge at Ruapehu.
The dates for the 2018 course are:
| Date | Time | Venue |
| 27 June (Weds) | 5.30pm-7.00pm | WTMC clubrooms |
| 04 July (Weds) | 5.30pm-7.00pm | WTMC clubrooms |
| 06-08 July (Fri-Sun) | 5:00pm Friday night to Sunday | Ruapehu Lodge |
| 18 July (Weds) | 5.30pm-7.00pm | WTMC clubrooms |
| 20-22 July (Fri-Sun) | 5:00pm Friday night to Sunday | Ruapehu Lodge |
| 25 July (Weds) | Return gear + debrief | WTMC clubrooms + Hop Garden |
YOU HAVE TO ATTEND EVERY SESSION TO COMPLETE THE COURSE.
Cost
Snowcraft is open to club members only, and is run on a cost-recovery basis with volunteer instructors.
Cost: $ 385.00
Course costs cover:
- a Snowcraft manual for each student to keep
- shared meals at the lodge on the two weekends away
- accommodation at the lodge on the two weekends away
- transport to and from the lodge on the two weekends away
Course costs do not include the cost of gear hire. You can hire ice axe, helmet and crampons from the Club for a small charge.
Paying & Applying
Payments should be made by electronic banking:
- Account Name: WTMC
- Account number: 38-9017-0330533-00
- Reference: SC 2018 – Fees – [your surname & initial]
To sign up for the course and receive an application form :
- email snowcraft@wtmc.org.nz
Signing up for Snowcraft does not guarantee you a place. Applications to join the course will be assessed for suitability on an individual basis.
On Completing Snowcraft
Once you have completed Snowcraft, you will be able to go on alpine club trips graded ALP 1, appropriate to your level of fitness for alpine conditions.
If you enjoy alpine trips then the next step may be to do an alpine instruction course where you learn how to use ropes and other equipment to do snow, ice & mixed climbing.
Questions
If you have any questions about Snowcraft:
- email snowcraft@wtmc.org.nz;or,
- come along to club rooms and ask to speak to henry fisher.