Latest news with #MtHutt
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Skiers hit Mt Hutt slopes for first time this winter
Photo: Supplied Skiers are hitting the slopes at Canterbury's Mt Hutt for the first time this winter after the ski area was forced to postpone its opening day. Mt Hutt was supposed to open its doors for ski season on Friday, but morning rainfall caused the snowpack to become unstable. On its website Mt Hutt said crews were out all night laying down new cord and preparing the area for the public for Saturday morning. People were advised to avoid some off-trail areas which still had a high slide risk. Manager James Urquhart said they were grateful to finally be able to open. "It's a relief to see everyone be back skiing and riding. It's a great buzz at the moment." He said more than 1500 people were at Mt Hutt on Saturday morning braving the -3C temperatures. He said those queuing outside in their cars on Friday were not there when they opened the gates at 7am. "They must've got sick of waiting and went home, the poor ones yesterday. I do feel bad for them." One of their chairlifts had to be de-iced and they were still sorting out a few kinks. "There's a few out there riding, but we've got a lot of people hanging around waiting for that lift to get going. We've been up since 4am trying to get it done, but it's taking some time to thaw things out and we need the sun to make it easier for us. "We're still trialling a lot of systems and staff are trying to get used to their roles. Considering the conditions we've had in the last few days, it's going well." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-06-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Queues outside Mt Hutt despite ski resort's forced opening day cancellation
Mt Hutt ski field. Photo: Supplied People are still queuing outside Canterbury's Mt Hutt despite the ski resort being forced to cancel its opening day. Mt Hutt was supposed to open its doors for ski season on Friday, but rainfall warmed the snowpack and caused it to become unstable. It was the second time Mt Hutt had to delay opening this year. Plans to open the ski field early on 31 May after favourable weather conditions were scrapped when it ended up being too warm. Mt Hutt manager James Urquhart said it was a frustrating situation. "We've been up since 4am getting ready for our opening. "But Friday the 13th was unlucky for us and our opening day wasn't to be." He said diehard skiers had been waiting outside the ski area since Thursday evening. "By 6.30pm there were cars already parked up and sleeping bags and barbeques out. "We have them in a safe zone at the bottom of the access road away from the ski area." He said by 7am on Friday there were about 17 cars. He expected those in line would stay there to be one of the first on the slopes. "I feel for them that they're still probably still sitting there waiting for the opening but people who understand the mountains and ski a lot know you've got to be prepared for the unexpected and this is just one of those days. "I'd say they'd definitely be keen to stay there to get that first on the chair t-shirt. That's the big win the big hoo-ha for them. "They'll be there until they run out of sausages and eggs and have to go into town to restock." He was optimistic they would be able to open tomorrow, weather permitting. "Right now we're in this warm, misty, cloudy weather, and we've just got to wait it out. "But we're going through the weather charts with our patrollers and snow safety officers and it looks like the warming cloud is going to leave this afternoon or early tonight and that'll give us a chance to prepare our ski area for tomorrow." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Mt Hutt plans to open two weeks early after big snow dump
Mt Hutt has not opened so early in the season since 2009. Photo: Supplied Canterbury's Mt Hutt ski field is planning to open two weeks early - if weather conditions remain favourable. More than one metre of snow fell on the slopes in early May, providing enough cover to open on King's Birthday weekend on 31 May. Mt Hutt ski manager James McKenzie told Midday Report the ski field had not opened in autumn for years. "We haven't seen this for about 16 years. 2009 was our first May opening since this side of the millennium, so it's pretty exciting," he said. McKenzie said a snowcat vehicle was already doing "quite a bit of a dig-out" to clear a fence buried in snow in preparation for the opening. "It's all buried under snow and we have to sort of have to lift that netting fence up so that we can get operational," he said. Clearing snow on Mt Hutt. Photo: Supplied While snow had melted off lower parts of the mountain because of a north-westerly wind, there was still a good base of snow on the upper mountain, where about 50 to 80 centimetres of snow remained, McKenzie said. "Looking at what we've got on the ground now, it is a fantastic start to the 2025 winter season for a southern ski field. So, we're just keeping our fingers crossed that it holds in there," he said. Mt Hutt was originally scheduled to open on 13 June. Snow ploughing on Mt Hutt. Photo: Supplied Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
13-05-2025
- Climate
- RNZ News
Mt Hutt plans to open two weeks early after snow dump
Canterbury's Mt Hutt Ski Area is planning to open its slopes two weeks early this year, if the weather holds. Mt Hutt Ski manager James McKenzie spoke to Morning Report. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
