5-day rock climbing course October 7, 2024

A 5-day sport climbing course based from Woolshed Creek Hut, Mt Somers.

5-day  rock climbing  course overview

On this 5-day sport climbing course, you will learn all the skills needed to go outdoor climbing. This course includes toprope climbing, lead climbing and abseiling.  This course is based out of Woolshed Hut, Mt Somers. Return transport from Christchurch and accommodation is included.

This course is suitable for recreational climbers and professional instructors working towards  NZOIA (New Zealand Outdoor Instructors Association) NZOIA Rock1 & Rock 2 awards.

PRICE $2399* (MINIMUM AGE 16 YEARS)

Youth Price $1199.50* (12-15 years, accompanied by an adult)

Prerequisites

Before attending this course, you must be competent at belaying with an ATC/belay plate or GriGri and have some outside climbing experience. If you’re unsure if you meet the prerequisites for this course, please give us a call or email before completing your booking.

Rock climbing  course location

The 5-day climbing course is an expedition-style course. This means that the course is delivered in a remote location and requires hiking into a backcountry hut. Mt Somers is two hours drive from Christchurch. Getting to Woolshed Creek Hut takes most groups 1.5-2hrs walk from the car park. From the hut, it’s just a 10-30 mins walk to the various climbing areas and swimming holes.

ACCOMMODATION

Your accommodation at Woolshed Creek Hut is included.

Woolshed Creek Hut is a 26 bunk standard DOC hut. The hut has 2 bunk rooms, a large common area and a fireplace.

Accommodation before & after your course

Your accommodation before & after the course is not included, please book your own accommodation in Christchurch. We have some suggested accommodation options in Christchurch on our FAQ’s page. Please book in the central city or south side of town.

FOOD

This is a self-catered course. Please bring all your food with you for the duration of the course.  A full packing list is available to download at the bottom of this page. Fresh drinking water is available at Woolshed Creek Hut.

FREE TRANSPORT

If you’re staying in a hotel

Free transport is available from any Christchurch accommodation if your travelling from out of town to attend one of our courses. Please book a central city or south Christchurch accommodation.

Meeting locations

If you have your own car or can get dropped off, please meet us at one of the following locations (you can catch a ride with us from here or drive your own car to Mt Somers):

• Cashmere Road, Cashmere-  opposite Princess Margaret Hospital (See on google maps)
• Salmon Tales Cafe – Rakaia. Approx 1hr from Christchurch (See on google maps)

TRAVELLING FROM OUT OF TOWN?

We recommend that you arrive in Christchurch the day before your course. We have a few hotel & hostel suggestions on our FAQ’s page. Please avoid booking accommodation north or east of the City Centre.  At the end of the course, we are more than happy to drop you back at your accommodation or directly to the airport.  The earliest time we can have you back at the airport is 5 pm.

GEAR & EQUIPMENT

You don’t need your own rock climbing gear for this course. We have all the specialist gear & equipment available for you to borrow. If you have your own gear, we encourage you to bring it along as it’s better to train with the gear that you own.  A full gear list is available to download at the bottom of this page.

 How many people will be on my course?

We believe that small groups are better for this type of training. So we have a maximum client to instructor ratio of just four clients to one instructor.

DOES THIS ROCK CLIMBING COURSE HAVE MINIMUM NUMBERS?

Yes, the minimum number for the course to proceed at the advertised price is two clients. We won’t cancel your course if we don’t meet our minimum numbers, though. Instead, we will offer you the following options:

a.) A shorter private course with 1-1 tuition – e.g. with one person we can cover the course content much faster, so fewer days are needed.

b.) You will be offered to continue with the course as planned and cover the extra cost.

c.) We can transfer you to another course.

See what our clients have to say

“The techniques that were introduced made a massive difference to my climbing” – Samantha Taylor, Wellington

“It was a really fun week, great safe experience. will come again” – James Hoodson, Canterbury

“The best part of the course was Learning new knots and how to use equipment” Taylor Britton

 

This rock climbing course includes

Safety

• Climbing Calls
• Buddy checks
• Personal safety at the top of the crag
• Spotting the lead climber
• Assessing the safety of climbing routes
• Checking and assessing climbing gear for damage

Belaying

• Top rope belaying with an ATC/belay plate
• Lead belaying ATC/belay plate
• Top rope belaying with a GriGri
• Lead belaying with a GriGri

Climbing Styles coved

• Top rope climbing
• Lead climbing/Sport climbing

Climbing techniques

• Basic movement techniques/body positioning
• Footwork techniques
• Handhold techniques
• Finding rests

Climbing Anchors

• Sport-anchor (using quickdraws)
• Toprope anchor/y-shape anchor (using sling and carabiners)
• Self equalising anchors

Transitions

• Lead climbing to set up a top-rope climb for a friend
• Cleaning a climb/retrieving your gear from the top when you finish climbing
• Top rope climbing to abseil.
• Lead climbing to abseil.

Rope & Rescue skills

• Climbing knots
• Tying off a belay device

  

• Un-jamming a belay device
• Taking over from an injured/sick belayer
• Un-jamming an abseil device

COURSE DOWNLOADS