Safety advice on winter tramping
Kia ora!
With the change of seasons comes a change in daylight hours, temperature drop, increased snowfall/icy terrain and growing risk of avalanches. NZ Mountain Safety Council understands the desire to want to get out and explore the beautiful backcountry of Aotearoa, so we want to ensure everyone is equipped with the knowledge, skills and useful tools to do this safely and make it home.
- Emergency communication device (you can hire if you need)
- Solid footwear (runners aren’t great in winter)
- Layerable clothing – avoid cotton, this pulls heat from your body if wet
- Waterproof jacket
- Warm hat + gloves
- First aid kit
- Emergency shelter
Snow specific:
- Crampons
- Ice axe
Entering, or travelling below avalanche terrain:
- Avalanche Transceiver
- Shovel
- Probe
Avalanche Safety
With the NZ Avalanche Advisory you can check the avalanche forecast in 13 regions across the country, Aoraki region is always forecasting and the rest will begin at the end of June.
We have a 23-part educational series on Avalanche Tips & Terms to breakdown essential information you need.
Get the skills by completing an Avalanche Skills Course or an online Avalanche course.
River Safety
River safety is one of the most important skills for anyone exploring the outdoors in New Zealand. Rivers can rise quickly after heavy rain, or due to snowmelt turning a tame river into a life-threatening hazard within minutes.
We have an informative video around river safety and river crossing.
Know the red flags of an unsafe river and if in doubt, stay out.
When assessing the river before you cross, remember is it too ‘messy, loud, fast and murky. Any of these signs means the river is flooded and dangerous to cross.
Choosing the right track
Plan My Walk has over 3000+ tracks, huts & campsites to choose from. They all come with essential information, alerts, weather forecasts and warnings, the ability to share your trip plan with emergency contacts. Many of the tracks have user reviews so you can see how others found the track, which is very helpful for planning your own trip.
Most importantly, know your limits and be prepared to switch your plans if the weather changes. Having a Plan B is an essential part of planning, and predetermined key-decision making points along your trip encourages you to stop and base your decisions on the conditions of the day.
Happy tramping!
Tess, NZMSC