Snow Craft 2010 |
The final evening at the hut is the graduation dinner where everyone gets into the spirit of the occasion with fancy dress and some ‘Chateau Cardboard’ to loosen the limbs for the classic table-traverse and a new game of pickup-the-winebox-with-your-teeth-with-only-your-feet-touching-the-ground introduced by welcomed gate crasher Paul Whitfield. The table traverse saw a few ‘ascents’ but the harder longitudinal variation beat off all comers. The winebox game showcased some exceptional flexibility especially from our older instructors. The box is progressively cut down in height until only the flat card of the base remained. Student Aaron the only one to pickup this sliver, beating off the favoured females in this test of human flex.
A great thanks to all for sharing their enthusiasm for the outdoors and a special thanks to our great and dedicated instructors who display great teaching skills and when required, great patience. Hopefully we will see each other again in the hills. - Chris Munro If you are interested in the NZAC Auckland Section Snowcraft course 2011, please register your interest with our chief instructor Chris Munro - chairperson@aucklandclimber.co.nz |
The first weekend in October marked the final installment of this year’s Auckland section alpine instruction course, SnowCraft 2010. As per usual, the weather played it’s hand: the first two weekends were pretty subdued affairs where students braved the wind to learn crampon & ice axe skills on weekend one, then snow caving & avalanche awareness in white-out & sleet conditions on weekend two. But that didn’t dampen their enthusiasm which was rewarded by glorious weather on weekend 3, which itself was postponed a week from it’s original date due to an atrocious weather & avalanche forecast. Finally the sun shone and all the groups managed to get in summit or two along with some steep snow climbing & pitching practice. 
One of the most enjoyable aspects of the course is meeting such a great bunch of people. This year proved no different and we were entertained by, amongst others, Lawrence’s childhood tales of using the neighbours daughter as test pilot on some ill-fated fast moving inventions and Issac’s general observations on life (or anything for that matter). The students consisted of a number of internationals from England, Scotland, Ireland & Lithuania joining in with locals all of who were hoping to get some skills to enjoy New Zealand’s mountains.