We have been exchanging e-mails since Patrick first contemplated this trip in May. I thought about us going along as Liz has never skied there. But then I lost interest with the poor start in June/July. In late July North Island got some major storms and the Southern Lakes areas got enough snow to open most terrain.
Canterbury continues to suffer one of its worst ever seasons.
I'm taking the liberty of posting some of Patrick's e-mail comments in the interest of timeliness.
Air Canada delayed the start to Patrick's trip.
There was a favorable report on Epic from Turoa Aug. 25: http://www.epicski.com/t/146916/austral ... st_2010474
However the storm before Patrick's arrival was a mixed bag.
Patrick wisely bypassed the Canterbury drought in favor of touring down the east coast of South Island.
Patrick made it to Milford Sound Sept. 2 and met his ZoneSki contact at the Remarkables Sept. 3.
I sent Patrick updates that weather was supposed to be mixed precip Sept. 4-5, clear Sept. 6, snow Sept. 7, clearing after that
On the bad weather day Wednesday Patrick drove over Haast Pass to the West Coast glaciers.
I suggested Patrick go back to Treble Cone after the expected new snow Wednesday
It didn't matter where Patrick skied Thursday because the bad weather lingered.
I recommended Patrick ski Treble Cone again Friday, but he'll probably hit the small Ohau area on his way north. On the weekend he plans to ski a day at Broken River to see at least one club field. Despite the bad season, Broken River is getting at least a foot of snow Sept. 7-8. I think Patrick's day there will be better than mine in July 2010.
Patrick leaves Christchurch early Sept. 12, Auckland Sept. 13 and Brisbane Sept. 14.
Canterbury continues to suffer one of its worst ever seasons.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/312110/september-will-feel-like-summer-instead-of-spring":3fh2befw said:
Waipara West in the north of Canterbury was tracking towards its second driest winter on record, with just 73mm of rain through to 28 August - only 43 percent of normal winter rainfall, Mr Noll said. "Places in Northern Canterbury, some spots have had only 40 to 60 percent of their normal rainfall so far in 2016 and these types of foehn winds will contribute to that. So it looks like in the next 15 days there's little in the way of rainfall for places that need it most."
I'm taking the liberty of posting some of Patrick's e-mail comments in the interest of timeliness.
Air Canada delayed the start to Patrick's trip.
Losing 24 hours...flight was delayed for 2hrs, enough to miss my Vancouver-Brisbane. Arrival on Aug 25 at 11:55pm. I already booked 2 night (26-27) near Whakapapa.
There was a favorable report on Epic from Turoa Aug. 25: http://www.epicski.com/t/146916/austral ... st_2010474
However the storm before Patrick's arrival was a mixed bag.
I'm on the ferry now. [crossing from North to South Island, TC]
Whakapapa received about 45cm mixed with rain. There were some pockets of soft snow, but also hard blue ice. The runs were firm.
Turoa: even firmer with even less soft pockets.
Patrick wisely bypassed the Canterbury drought in favor of touring down the east coast of South Island.
I skipped Abel Tasman, spent more time around Kaikura. Spent last night in Christchurch (I had to go to the car rental company in CC as they gave me only one snow chain in Auckland - found out going up to Whakapapa. Got refund and a set of chains), now I'm in Dunedin (initially planned on the tail end of my trip). Otago Peninsula then Milford Sound. Besides today and tomorrow, Saturday is the first without the mention of gale force winds or-and rain.
I'm not desperate to ski, too many things I want to see. I'm suppose to be tagging up with a French skier from various forums on Saturday.
Left Dunedin at 5pm. Now I'm next to Milford Sound in Te Anau. I'll go to MS tomorrow Sept 2 then sleep in Qtown. Skiing at Coronet w forum user or Remarks. It will depend on the forever changing forecast. I might do only one ski area in QT and Treble Cone...then checkout some club fields.
Patrick made it to Milford Sound Sept. 2 and met his ZoneSki contact at the Remarkables Sept. 3.
Zone Ski TR and pics from Remarkables: http://www.zoneski.com/forum/topic/2224 ... mbre-2016/I did Milford Sound yesterday and Remarks today. Heavy rain and gale force winds expected tomorrow everywhere.
Milford: cloud level was probably 1200-1400m. There were waterfalls everywhere.
The next clear break in the weather is Tuesday. Monday calls for showers. I wasn't expected to stay in QT until then, the place I'm staying is fully book for tomorrow...day I check out.
Remarks: I did homeward bound and was picked up by the shuttle. I wanted to also do the Alta chutes, but it was late and my legs were done. [I had advised about Remarkables from my day there in 2006]
Cardrona vs Coronet: I met up with someone that writes for remontees-mecaniques.org (or something). Another globe trotter. He skied Coronet prior to my arrival and said it was ugly. We were suppose to go skiing together at Coronet yesterday, but he totally said it wasn't worth. I spoke to a few locals and pretty much everyone mentioned that Cardrona was a way better option right now.
Ohau would be a possible day trip from Wanaka.
I sent Patrick updates that weather was supposed to be mixed precip Sept. 4-5, clear Sept. 6, snow Sept. 7, clearing after that
Zone Ski TR and pics from Treble Cone: http://www.zoneski.com/forum/topic/2225 ... mbre-2016/Skiing and terrain at TC: One of the best Sept 6 skiing I've ever done. Sunny day, a gazillion pictures. Some aspect were frozen hard as it was -7c last night. TC is head above the rest of them in terrain I've seen so far in NZ.
The plan is snow tomorrow with high winds. I've already bought a discounted ticket for Cardrona (which was initially planned for yesterday afternoon after the rain).
Thursday: Ohau or Cardrona
On the bad weather day Wednesday Patrick drove over Haast Pass to the West Coast glaciers.
This is what I did from the other direction (Arthur's Pass) during a bad weather hiatus in 2010.I've done the walks at both glaciers and now I'm back in Wanaka. So the plan is Cardrona tomorrow then possibly Ohau on Friday towards Canterbury.
I suggested Patrick go back to Treble Cone after the expected new snow Wednesday
I have already committed to Cardrona with the 50% cost of the lift ticket deal I got from their office in QT.
Powder is going to be minimal tomorrow also. The terrain was frozen, only a few aspects soften up. I did a good sense of the terrain. No the Motatupu chutes were closed.
It didn't matter where Patrick skied Thursday because the bad weather lingered.
I didn't Cardrona... I just ski it. I wasn't planning to come back to Wanaka after skiing Ohau. Hoping to ski again Saturday and call it a month. Sunday would be to visit the beach of the east coast and get my things together for my early flight out of CC.
I won't type long, I'm at the Cardrona lodge. I had enough of skiing blind not knowing where the fall line is.
I recommended Patrick ski Treble Cone again Friday, but he'll probably hit the small Ohau area on his way north. On the weekend he plans to ski a day at Broken River to see at least one club field. Despite the bad season, Broken River is getting at least a foot of snow Sept. 7-8. I think Patrick's day there will be better than mine in July 2010.
Patrick leaves Christchurch early Sept. 12, Auckland Sept. 13 and Brisbane Sept. 14.