Mt Hutt Ski Field

We spent last week watching the weather forecast closely to try and pick a clear day for skiing at Mt Hutt so we would be able to see the ski field. All the rain down here has translated into 2 metres up there over the last two weeks - this is the earliest the snowpack has been this deep and is approaching the all time deepest pack levels at 2.25 metres.

Sunday morning it was drizzling here in ChCh so we got soaked while waiting in the dark on a nearby street corner for the Snowbus to pick us up at 7:30. We were prepared in a waterproof outer layer. For $180 each we had decided to let someone else do the driving. The cost covers transport, rental, and lift ticket. We actually ended up paying $155 each by presenting our International Teacher Identity Cards.

The drive begins with the drizzle continuing for just over an hour almost due west along the Canterbury Plain basically at sea level. Then the sign for Mt Hutt Ski Field - 14 km appears with no snow in sight. I know from the web site that the ski field is at 2086 metres with a vertical drop of 683 metres. The road quickly turns from sealed (paved) to gravel and starts climbing and getting narrower. About 1/3 of the way up there is snow along the road and on the peaks where they are visible in the clouds. The road continues to wind upward and we stop at the Canterbury View (good view of Canterbury Plain if there were no clouds) to chain up (good thing we are not driving ourselves). Here we are about ½ way up. The drizzle changes to light snow. We arrive at the ski field about 9:30. We get fitted for gear after trying to figure out height and weight in cm and kg. Rental gear was not too bad. The temperature was about 0°C so we wore usual ski clothes and were even a bit overdressed. It did feel weird with just a knit cap and goggles and no helmet. The helmet did not have a chance to talk to me much. Doug of course suggests we head directly for the Summit 6 chair since we couldn’t see the summit. We get to the top and cannot see a thing. The cloud/fog and snow made for no visibility. The first few runs are not fun skiing by Braille and trying to find nonexistent trails, but the snow was great - still soft and powdery. It was so powdery that a few times it was hard to get back up after falling because poles would just keep going down and down. My goggles fog over and will not clear so I have even less fun. The base lodge has the usual expected amenities – equipment rentals (including clothing), café, bar, restaurant, store (no long sleeve t-shirts), ski school, daycare, restrooms, and ski patrol/medical. We stop for an early lunch and the sun peers out, snow stops, and my goggles clear. Visibility is not over-rated! Afternoon runs are much better with good visibility, familiarity with equipment, and the lay of the land with the sort of trails. Trails are listed on the map but very few are actually marked on the slopes. The field is one huge bowl consisting of several smaller bowls. Lifts are 1 high speed 6 accessing the summit, 1 quad going about ½ way up, 1 triple coming up from below the base lodge to about ½ way up, and a magic carpet. We take the triple once but the snow is better up top (a little wetter and heavier down low) and spend the rest of the day on the Summit 6. There are two long traverses either way off the summit to access the South Face chutes (at double black I said no way – even the helmet couldn’t talk me into it) or Virgin Mile Ridge. We found the Ridge by peering into the mist and watching for other skiers. The Ridge drops off the summit and follows the east ridge boundary of the field with a great view of the Canterbury Plain 2000 metres below. Note the braided river on the plain before the next ridge in the distance. More about braided rivers later.

We quit skiing at 3:00. I am not in ski shape and was working way too hard so I got very tired. Next time Doug wants to get me on the South Face Chutes. Maybe the helmet will speak to me next time. The van loads up just before 4:00 so we are home by 5:30. The driver does not have the card reader with him so we have to stop at a cash machine back in ChCh to get money to pay him.

Once at home we walked two blocks to get Indian food take away for dinner and had a quiet evening in front of a nice warm TV after a long hot shower.