Snow Business

Weather looks interesting for the end of this week (strong wind and snow) but probably heading down regardless, hope it clears somewhat. Keen to head out West Whakapapa, haven't been this season yet!

I can't see the weather improving that much for weekend tbh. Lots of snow (and wind), early-mid next week things hsould hopefully improve and one may be able to enjoy it.

gonna be mad end of season carnage looks like, who'd have guessed it?

yeah finally a decent dump for spring .. just hope the rain stays away so we get a chance to enjoy the new snow,should be good for next weekend .. forecast is for snow most of the week YUSSSS

Meant to be heading to Ohakune for two weeks on Friday ... if it looks like the mountains gonna be closed though I might head down during the following week instead

i'd be pretty hesitant on guessing what the weather is doing on a friday from a monday evening... but good luck with that theory

Nearly 2 metres at whaka now. More than turoa. Crikey! And more to come.

Yeah, I'm picking I'll make a few phone calls and talk to people on Friday. Not rostered on Sunday/Monday anyway, so unless it's looking like it'll be open Saturday I'll probably just boost downbMonday night. And, that way I get to do my Masterchef audition Monday.

Its bad enough trying to guess Ruapehu the day before, let alone a week out- still looking fairly windy for weekend atm, with the freezing level rising I just hope things dont get too icy. Might try and get down for a day next week just depending on how the weather goes.
With the High Noon out of commission for awhile it could make whakapa the more attractive option atm- only been up there 1/2 day this year and that was average, would be good to get out West.

Monday could be a go.....

Mean, my day off!

whaka now has 210cms from what, a couple of weeks ago? less than a metre, something like 80 cms?

Great spring skiing on Tuesday-Finally got out West at Whakapapa- couldn't be bothered waiting in the queue though when they finally opened the T bar. This weekend could be promising as well although won't be able to make it down until Sunday at the earliest.

Such a mean 2 days ion Turoa. If you have Monday off you HAVE TO GET HERE!!!!

WTF???
you call those lift queues yesterday mean? You need your head read!
Went to Whakapapa today and by 11am had more runs in that I did all day yesterday at Turoa, and much more area able to actually board on, Turoa was all fenced off with closed signs threatening with pass suspensions etc

So apart from that how's the snow?

It's not all that bad. Bit firm early on, softening as day progresses. We left at 2pm yesterday and it wasn't too slushy or anything by that point.

The ques onto the High Noon were epic bad yesterday, but everything else was cruisey as ... as once the Noon had opened up it took all the pressure off the rest of the mountain. Jumbo T was generally a 5min wait which was fine and gave you access to the upper mountain. We had a mean day just cruising High Fler, the park, and down the Movenpick .... MOvenpick had NO lines at all so it was a great pick. Giant was pretty busy so we avoided it, but High Flyer, Jumbo T and Movenpick all were easy as to get on and no real hassles ... just had to pick where you were boarding. We did the High Noon twice, but 10 minute waits were a bit much ... wasn't that bad really all things considered and we rode it hard for the better part of 5 hours I'd say

Today and this week looks pretty good. No snow predicted (might be no more for rest of season) but conditions are still pretty mean!

When is the mountain set to close again? I know RAL wil be loving the good weather for the school hols but I can't see the base lasting very long with that either.

They're saying November 7 .... don't know if that'll happen though. It'd only really take a few days of rain to really screw things.

Spent a few hours up Turoa today. Lines at the High Noon were pretty crap and snow wasn't too flash even by about 1pm. Might have softened and improved later on, but I was a bit tired so gave it up pretty early on.

spent all weekend out west at whaka, still plenty of snow, but slushy wet heavy and slow, stil loads of fun.. the storm filled in a lot of terrain, did a bit of a bc mish out blackmagic and had to rock hop and hike a bit.. still able to board down home run back to the bottom cafe (below west quad, following the national chair) pretty sure the west will be sweet till whaka closes (25th oct)

some good pics here

http://www.outsidethelines.co.nz/

boarded whaka sat .. was epic tshirt weather and not a cloud in the sky ... headed up turoa sunday but did not enjoy boarding there as much as I did on whaka which is a change for me im usualy all for turoa , whaka def my pick now more options lift and trail wise and the snow is much nicer