A little snow this past weekend was oh-so welcome, but has sadly not really added a lot to the skiable terrain at the Victorian ski resorts. What snow did fall has, however, done a good job at keeping some marginal areas of the resorts open and available to ski. Not a lot of snow is forecast in Australia until a possible storm sometime in the middle of next week. Cooler conditions will keep the snow from melting in the meantime. Look - you can't really complain, its just sad that the weather didn't carry on with it and deliver a bumper year for us all!
Mt Hotham
Natural Snow Depth: 95-109cms
The fresh snowfalls have kept The Orchard open which is essential in peak season to prevent overcrowding, although the lack of snowmaking over there is a concern. Cold nights all this week must be helping generate lorry-loads of manmade snow ... but the areas we really want to ski at Hotham don't have snowmaking! Fortunately Heavenly Valley doesn't look like suffering and will no doubt be skiable for the rest of the season.
Natural Snow Depth: 95-109cms
The fresh snowfalls have kept The Orchard open which is essential in peak season to prevent overcrowding, although the lack of snowmaking over there is a concern. Cold nights all this week must be helping generate lorry-loads of manmade snow ... but the areas we really want to ski at Hotham don't have snowmaking! Fortunately Heavenly Valley doesn't look like suffering and will no doubt be skiable for the rest of the season.
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| The Summit at Falls Creek [Source: Falls Creek Facebook page] |
Natural Snow Depth: 76-86cms
Falls Creek is interesting, with all its lifts open but very patchy cover in the sun-exposed International and Last Hoot areas. As you would expect with the snow depth, all the intermediate areas from Tower's to Ruined Castle have great snow cover making it the best choice in Victoria for intermediate skiing.
Mt Buller
Mt Buller
Natural Snow Depth: 33cms
Buller only has natural snow cover thanks to the recent snowfall. Snowmaking areas like Bourke Street, Summit and Wombat make up the bulk of the skiing.
NEW ZEALAND
At long bloody last - the drought is over, the sun has buggered off, and some snow has fallen transforming all the New Zealand skifields into a winter wonderland!
It was really getting desparate, but now there are smiles all round again with the return to winter conditions. The storms over the past few days have brought lots of snow. Its not powder really at resort level, apparently it was quite wet snow. But thats perfect to get started on building the bases again and adding more.
More snow is forecast for Canterbury and the Mackenzie this week, while the weather has cleared in the Southern Lakes. Note, the snow depths below are likely to be revised upwards in the next day or two as the fields open again.
At long bloody last - the drought is over, the sun has buggered off, and some snow has fallen transforming all the New Zealand skifields into a winter wonderland!
It was really getting desparate, but now there are smiles all round again with the return to winter conditions. The storms over the past few days have brought lots of snow. Its not powder really at resort level, apparently it was quite wet snow. But thats perfect to get started on building the bases again and adding more.
More snow is forecast for Canterbury and the Mackenzie this week, while the weather has cleared in the Southern Lakes. Note, the snow depths below are likely to be revised upwards in the next day or two as the fields open again.
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| Porters [Source: Porters Facebook page] |
North Canterbury and Nelson
Rainbow (20-60cms) has fixed its road and the snowfalls have reopened the pretty little skifeield; while Hanmer Springs (5-85cms) is hoping to reopen soon. Mt Lyford (80-120cms) has received 65cms of snow in the past 48 hours.
Canterbury
Porters (40-80cms) has got a welcome dump and it is still snowing. Mt Hutt (75-80cms) is shut while it waits out the storm that has already brought 60cms of new snow in 48 hours. Cheeseman and Mt Olympus now have a metre of snow up high.
The Mackenzie
Ohau (70-100cms) is in business again. Roundhill (40-60cms) has opened and I've been caught off-guard as I read they have a new T-Bar!
The Mackenzie
Ohau (70-100cms) is in business again. Roundhill (40-60cms) has opened and I've been caught off-guard as I read they have a new T-Bar!
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| Cardrona [Source: Cardrona Facebook page] |
Treble Cone (79-80cms) has opened the Motatapu Chutes for the first time this season, and skiing will be excellent in the Saddle Basin. Cardrona (70-75cms) looks beautiful again with up to 30cms new snow.
Coronet Peak (40-80cms) could still do with some more natural snow, such was the lack of snow before this storm. The Remarkables is now in a vastly improved state thanks to a snow depth of 60-80cms.
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