Alpine Instruction Course

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ALPINE INSTRUCTION COURSE Clare Kempster When I discovered what AIC's were all about, I knewi it was definitely something I wanted to 0 0 0 try out. After seeing Rex's and Lyndsay's slides ofl Ruapehu and Taranaki summits, I couldn't wait to get up there myself. Over thej previous few years the course had apparently included quite a bias towards technical rope work and rock climbing. This year our instructors had made a decision to revert back to the "old style". AIC's. Basically this meant concentrating on skills necessary for trans-alpine tramping, with a minimum of extra gear compared to that taken on a normal winter tramp. There were 22 of us on the course and 5 instructors (more experienced club members who volunteered their time). The whole course consisted of2 days and 3 weekends spread over about 31 months. Wel began in the club rooms one Saturday morning I not much snow in sight but it was somewhere warm (Holly may dispute that GETTING To KNOW fact), and dry to practise tying knots with YOUR KN015. ropes, belaying off tables and constructing tape harnesses. We were also shown a variety of equipment and clothing. The emphasis was on making do with what we already had for tops. You certainly have to get your knots right tramping. with someone stepping backwards off a cliff relying on your clove hitches not being Italian Stage 2 was a trip out to Titahi Bay - again no ones. I shall never forget returning to thei top of snow, but quite a bit of wind to keep the the cliff, taking my time while a certain person temperature down. Amazingly enough, there (who shall remain nameless!) took up the slack was no rain, despite Struan's presence must in the rope only to find when I got to the top, be a good omen. We had great fun roping up he had the rope all neatly coiled up in one and belaying each other up and down the cliff hand! At Titahi Bay. (Photo: Clare Kempster) Once we had mastered our basic rope techniques, the time came to actually get out into the snow. Due to the unfortunate clash between the AIC weekend and the Broken River ski trip (the latter of which I went on and had an excellent time but that's another story), Iwent up to Ruapehu a week before everyone else.. Accompanied by 2 of the course instructors and another experienced ex-club member, I was in for some intensive training! We spent the Friday night (after touring railway stations in Wellington and Khandallah in an attempt to rendevous with Matt), in a conveniently placed public toilet/shelter at the foot of the mountain. It proved to be a popular overnight spot - certainly a different place to try out a new sleeping bag! As we headed up to Turoa ski fields the next morning, we tried not tol be discouraged by all the cars coming down the mountain. Even thei fact that the ski field was closed didn't deter us from donning our gear and setting off Walking with crampons takes al bit of getting used to. We soon had to put thei ice axes to use as anchors as we topped a ridge and felt the full force of the wind. It was at this stage that we totally abandoned Finally at the summit of Mt Taranaki/Egmont. any notion of reaching the top and turned back into a sheltered gully. Lyndsay played around The official AIC trip thei following weekend also on his touring skis and Tony and Matt sat hit bad weather, but the storm didn't arrive around shouting out advice to me while I tried until the Saturday night when they were all in to think up as many ways as possible of sliding tents on the mountain-side. A tent being down a slope in order to practice self-arresting destroyed was the only disaster, but I gather it with an ice axe; (forwards, backwards, was aj pretty sleepless night! One thing the sideways, upsidedown...).1 I also managed to course has certainly taught us is a respect for pierce a hole in my boot (just missing my mountain weather. toes), whilst steadying myself on a steep slope not a brilliant idea! - Iam writing this half way through the course and we are all hoping for perfect conditions for After a couple of hours of "playing" in the snow weekends II and III on Ruapehu and Taranaki. we gave in to the weather and retreated to the But whatever the weather I'm sure we'l '11 have a hot pools to warm up. Much as I really wanted fun time and learn lots. Ithoroughly to camp out on the mountain and test out the recommend the course to anyone who plans to warmth of my new sleeping bag, common do much winter tramping - you never know sense: and a warm ski lodge with spare beds when you mayl have to traverse ice and snow - (and a drying room) prevailed that night. even in the' Tararua Ranges. I can also take my There were, after all, 2 more weekends to go skills back to England = we may not have on the course. "mountains" " , but we do get snow ! WMEW!