Mt Hutt ski area to open after epic snowstorm
Canterbury’s Mt Hutt ski area is set to re-open tomorrow (Thursday August 18) after New Zealand’s biggest snow storm in 50 years dumped 80cm of fresh dry powder on its slopes. The mountain was closed for three days as the storm closed the access road and left huge drifts burying parts of the base building and lift stations. Three ski patrollers, four groomer drivers, two custodians and a road...
Read MoreSnow level soars past 2010 season at Mt Ruapehu
Snowy conditions at Mt Ruapehu in the past week have caused the snow base at Whakapapa Ski Area to soar past July 2010 levels. Snow at Knoll Ridge, Whakapapa has now reached greater levels than during the entire month of July last year. As of today, the snow base at both Turoa and Whakapapa Ski Areas has cracked the 1m mark and is expected to climb with the snow storm forecast through to...
Read MoreQueenstown revels in new snow & Cardrona opens for 2011
the mountains surrounding the South Island resort town. The snow started yesterday (Wednesday 6 July) bringing freezing temperatures and snow to low levels. Forecasts predict a storm pattern that is expected to continue into next week, dumping snow on the picturesque Southern Alps ski areas. Coronet Peak, The Remarkables and Cardrona ski areas all report snowy conditions today as part of the...
Read MoreCoronet Peak opens thanks to snowmaking but with limited terrain
The ski area will open at 9am with limited beginner, novice and intermediate terrain available. Trails can be accessed from the Coronet Express and Meadows Express chairlifts, and two conveyor lifts. Snow cover on the main open trails is thin with an average 15 to 20cm on the upper mountain and 10 to 15cm on the lower mountain. Runs open will include the main M1 Trail from top to bottom, the Big...
Read MoreSchool-kids among first to enjoy snow at Mt Hutt
The ski area’s Magic Carpet and Quad Chair were cranked up for the start of the 2011 season and took visitors up the slopes — including a group of 120 school-kids from Australia — from 9am this morning. Mt Hutt Ski Area Manager David Wilson said it had been “a great day” with visitors enjoying blue skies and heaps of positive feedback about getting open. “More than 250 people from...
Read MoreQueenstown’s Coronet Peak prepares to go automatic
Coronet Peak, scheduled to open on June 4, has received 4cm of snow over the weekend with more snow and a cold snap forecast over the next two days. The snowfall and cooler air temperatures combine to help cool the ground and make for good snow-making conditions. Ski area manager Hamish McCrostie said if the weather pattern kept up, the plan was to switch the snowmaking system on ‘full...
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