1000's try summer skiing

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 419, 14 January 1992, Page 1

1000's try summer skiing

Thousands of skiers flocked to Whakapapa over the Christmas - New Year period to try mid-summer snow skiing. Ruapehu Alpine Lifts have operated their chairlifts for trampers, climbers and sightseers during the holidays for the past three years, and because there was still metres of snow on the upper slopes, decided to also operate the Knoll Ridge and Te Heu Heu T bars and Cinder Track platter for skiing these holidays. Some people also chose to ski the Waterfall Express Quad, though skiers had to remove their skis in a few places. RAL spokesman Mark Woods said they had been surprised, and a little caught off guard at the response the first few days, starting from 27 December. He said

they had not been sure what to expect, but saw 1400 to 1600 skiers per day visit the field for the two weeks. Mr Woods said the skiing matched good spring conditions when it froze overnight, but that the snow on some of the warmer days was fairly heavy. Although the weather was not great, there was enough fair weather to make the exercise worthwhile, said Mr Woods. The chairlifts are still operating for foot passengers, until 2 February, but although there is still skiable snow on the T bars, they are no longer operating. Two to three hundred people a day are using the chairlifts for access to the upper areas of the mountain for sightseeing and tramping.