Is Ruapehu ready yet?

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 13, Issue 593, 4 July 1995, Page 2 (Supplement)

Is Ruapehu ready yet?

Is Ruapehu ready for your ski trip yet? — Well, it should be well-and-truly by the time you read this. It's a case of bad news is good news in that the lousy weather is building up the base. At the time of going to press (Thursday night, 29 June) I was sitting in our Ohakune office with the heaters blasting and the rain pouring down outside and the Ohakune pub clock showing 6°C. That usually means it was pumping on the mountain — building up the base that w'as already there. And by the look of Jim's map on the telly, there was an even bigger dollop on the way. Whakapapa has been open for beginners since Queen's Birthday with upper field runs open in the last 10 days or so, and Turoa opened two days last week, Friday and Saturday. According to dispatches from locals, the skiing was fantastic — great snow and few people, although facilities were a bit limited (Turoa acknowledged this and offered day passes at discount prices). But they were skiing to the carpark already!

The field reports as of Thursday 29 June were: Whakapapa had an 80cm base on the upper field and deepening. Expected to operate in the weekend were the Happy Valley & Hutt Flat rope tows for beginners, Centennial & Waterfall chairlifts for access, and the Cinder Track, Valley T and Waterfall Ts for skiing. Snow conditions were expected to be fresh powder off trail and packed powder on trail — Just in time for midterm break. "We're very happy," was Whakapapa marketing manager Scott Lee's first understatement for the season. Turoa' s base was 65cm plus. The field had been closed most of the week due to high winds and they had been getting snow flurries with a little rain. By Thursday this had turned to snow, we would wager, with a good ration out of the storm. Expected to operate on the weekend were the Alpine Meadow platters, the Movenpick, Giant and High Flyer chairs with the High Noon due to open as soon as the weather cleared. Tukino was also expected to open on the weekend.