early snow a godsend

As reported in the New Zealand Herald....

Meanwhile, commercial skifield operators are talking about starting the season next month with exceptionally early and heavy snowfalls that have arrived in the past fortnight.

And if the weather clears, Manganui Ski Field on Mt Taranaki may open today.

The mountain had a snow base of up to 50cm, enough for the Stratford Mountain Club to open the lower and learner's slopes and t-bar, said club safety services convener Todd Cations-Velvin.

With heavy snowfalls sweeping across the South Island at the weekend, operators were looking at what was involved in bringing forward their planned season opening dates.

In Canterbury, Porter Heights general manager Uli Dinsenbacher said there was 40cm of snow in the car park and 1.5m at the top of the mountain. The skifield is looking at opening on June 26.

Mr Dinsenbacher said it was 20 years since he had last seen such conditions in May.

Mt Hutt has a base of 110cm after more than 170cm of snow fell over the past 10 days.
The field had planned to open on June 13.