Media release from Mt Hutt
August 17 2011
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 contracting crew trapped on the mountain made good
use of their time digging out doors and pathways. Today they were joined by more than 75 staff who finally reached them
once the road access was cleared.
"The mountain's looking absolutely great with 80cm of new snow especially in the inner basin and some wind affected
areas," said ski area manager David Wilson.
"The contrast has been huge with 2m to 3m snowdrifts around the lifts and base building, but in others the wind has
stripped out the snow.
"This snowfall will change us completely for the rest of the season, it's just fantastic.
"We still need to do a lot of work but we're all steam ahead to be ready for at least a partial opening first thing
tomorrow subject to weather and conditions.
"This has really set us up for the thousands of keen skiers and boarders from Canterbury and overseas who are just
itching to get up here for some amazing first tracks in some serious powder.
"Now the storm has done its stuff, we're looking forward to some glorious sunny weekend weather."
ends