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General Climbing Discussion

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TMC which company is the best? 25-Nov-2003 At 7:19:13 PM vwills

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I did a course with Adventure Consultants a while ago. We flew into Centennial Hut from Fox Glacier which worked out really well, bailed after a week when the weather looked ominous and spent a couple of days ice climbing on the glacier.
The company was well organised and the instructors were very good.I have no complaints about the trip at all and consider it money well spent.
However it could have easily been a disaster because of differing abilities and fitness in the group (of 8 clients). Fortunately the 2 instructors sussed out things quickly and tailored activities but I heard later the not so fit group felt a bit overwhelmed or left out. The other trouble with a large group is that you sort of monopolise the hut without meaning to.
Public courses are always a bit of a risk like that- so if you have the option of going with a friend of similar abilities, I'd arrange things privately and find a good instructor.
However you shouldn't expect them to keep you amused for 24 hours a day (as per the previous complaint). They are there to teach you climbing skills, not to engage in witty repartee. I reckon it would be a pretty hard job a lot of the time.