Southern Lakes including Queenstown and Wanaka
Free and Independent
Yesterday the sun was over the Tropic of Cancer, although that's a bit low in the horizon for us, which means that it is the shortest day. Crazies all over New Zealand celebrated with a ceremonial dip in the water. Dunedenites tested their toes in the Southern Ocean, some people made do with a head dip in a bucket and I turned the showerrrr to cold for five seconds .... OK, OK it was more like one second .... and that's about how much longer today is than yesterday was.
Evan " looking forward to the longer days" Bloomfield
>================ FREE from our sponsors nzski.com
Like a FREE coffee or latte? Well its pretty easy.
The first 10 people to print this SnowReport, and take it up to
the crew at the Coronet Peak Brasserie win.
Now that's pretty easy!
>================ Last issue
Last week we checked out some snow forecasting techniques you can use in your lounge, they closed the old snow pole track, recommended SnowCam Land, did the update on the snow areas and compared the vital statistics of the five snow areas in the Southern Lakes of New Zealand.
You can view our previous snow reports online.
>================ Now here is some reaL snow forecasting!
Now you can imagine your pulse quickening when you get a email like this from certified SnowBoard phreeek Rob Davies;
"Good work with those KiwiNewZ snow reports!
I thought you might be interested in a project of mine at: http://www.geo.vuw.ac.nz/~robd/snow.html
I've written this page to issue NZ snow forecasts for +72 hours, in 6 hour periods, as part of the Victoria University Weather info server. It's only been up and running a few days, but it seems to be reliable, issuing new forecasts every 12 hours. I've followed its progress over the past 10 days and it did a reasonable job of predicting who got the big falls and who didn't (N. Island).
We simply download the same American weather data as Metservice rely on, i.e. forecasts of precipitation and temperature etc, and combine it with digital topography to predict snowfall and freezing levels. It's quite simple in fact, and much easier to interpret than the usual weather maps."
Oh can you believe it! Go Rob. This is a well layed out weather forecast map with red freezing level contours and blue rain fall contours. Colour codes are used for the amount of snow and shades of grey for rainfall. And yes it is heaps easier to interpret for us snow hounds than a "normal" weather map. Rob goes on to say;
"The images are calculated by estimating the temperature on the surface, (represented by a 1km digital elevation model) using lapse rates derived from the pressure and temperature data in the NOAA WAFS model. Snowfall is predicted wherever this same model forecasts precipitation falling onto ground that is expected to be below freezing on the basis of its altitude and the lapse rate at that point. The quantity of snow is simply given by the forecast accumulated precipitation, multiplied by the typical NZ snow:rain factor (8.0). In some areas, where dry and powdery snow tends to fall, such as central Otago, this can sometimes be as great as 12, leading to an underestimate being given here."
You are kidding me! Then to top it all off the last page gives a forecast for the accumulated snow fall for the next 48 hours. Here is another little gem from Robs keyboard;
"Don't expect a quick reply to any e-mails - chances are I'm down in the Southern Alps with my snowboard, ground-truthing the predictions."
So come on folks! Lets show our appreciation and flood Robs Inbox. As a measure of our appreciation Rob wins a feathery Kiwi keyring from KiwiNewZ. Thanks Rob!
>================ Your last chance to Win two Free nights in Queenstown
This is your last chance to win two free nights accommodation in a luxury lakeside Queenstown apartment. Honest.
Email me right now with at least three email addresses of friends or colleagues that you think might like to receive our SnowReports. The winner will be announced in the next SnowReport so go on, give it a go.
>================ Soft and powdery
Who said "It is soft and powdery." Well Neil Armstrong of course. Just a few seconds into his first moonwalk.
Imagine snowboarding down a moon crater! Well I have had the privilege of skiing into a crater ... on Mt Ruapehu.
My mum used to swim in the Crater Lake in the mid 50's and that concept always used to impress me. I have spent many a brilliant day touring around the top of Mt Ruapehu but one of the most memorable would have to be when we skied down the eastern slope of the crater bowl and had lunch on the "beach". It was about a metre wide ( tide must have been in ), quite stony and of course it stank. Looking across the Crater Lake we saw a grey / green watery vista with the far side of the Crater just visible through a veil of rising steam, and the odd little bubbly swell as gases escaped from well within the earth.
Now I haven't been up there since the recent eruptions and kids if you are going to try this make sure you ask your mom first - she may well have been there before!
>================ Coronet Peak
Recent Snow falls
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Base
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Top
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|
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4 June
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6cm
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10cm
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07 June
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0cm
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5cm
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13 June
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10cm
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15cm
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16 June
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2cm
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5cm
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21 June
|
2cm
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Well I celebrated the first night skiing session at a cocktail party put on by Browns Ski Shop. Great chance to try out some new skis ... and swill some hot gluvein! The Meadows Chair is now open and the snow makers manage to lay down a pretty nice new trail each day. My advice is be the early bird! Don't forget to print this report out and take it up to the Coronet Brasserie - the first ten people get a free Coffee or Latte.
CoronetCam is pumping out some lovely shots with a couple of night scenes and the mountain lit up. Don't forget to hit the "Refresh" or "Reload" button to update the images.
>================ Cardrona
Recent Snow falls
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Base
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Top
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|
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4 June
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10cm
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|
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07 June
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12cm
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|
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13 June
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10cm
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|
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14 June
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5cm
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Yep its all happening at Cardrona with a big opening day planned for this Thursday June 24th. Nigel says it is the best snow they have had at opening for over five years! Lifts opening are McDougalls Quad, Captains Quad, the Platter and of course my favourite the Magic Carpet! I might just have to go over there and check it all out for you ... what do you think?
And don't forget the big opening party at The Rattlesnake Bar in Queenstown on Thursday night. They will have a special video put together by the crew at Wild Pictures and if you take your opening Day Pass along you go in the draw to win a Season Pass.
I have ironed out the wrinkles in CardronaCam
and happy to declare it live and logging! This is a view of the back of Cardrona
from Middle Shotover and updates 8 times a day. And a special little hidden
treat is a page showing the last 16 shots
from CardronaCam. Click on the thumb nail images to see a blow up shot.
>================ Treble Cone
Recent Snow falls
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Base
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Top
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|
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4 June
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5cm
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|
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08 June
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10cm
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|
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13 June
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5cm
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15 - 20cm
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And wouldn't you believe it but I didn't make it over to the opening of Treble Cone on Thursday June 19. All of the lifts were open which is a great effort and the 400 odd people there were treated to a brilliant sunny fresh snow day on TC. Don't you hate that! Skiing and sliding was mostly on trail although the first gun barrel on the Summit TBar was pretty nice ..... so they say ....
>================ The Remarkables
Recent Snow falls
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Base
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Top
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|
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4 June
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5cm
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|
|
07 June
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10cm
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15cm
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|
13 June
|
10cm
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|
|
19 June
|
6cm
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8cm
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Big opening day is Saturday 26 June. Snow making is topping up the Alta and beginner trails. Don't forget the special family deal this year - children 10 and under go free. Now that's a deal. Don't forget to check out the latest visuals on RemarkableCam and hit the "Refresh" or "Reload" buttons to get the latest pics.
>================ Waiorau Snow Farm
Not officially open until Thursday 24 June but quite a few X Country skiers tested the tracks on the weekend. Tyre testing continues at a frenetic pace with the regular snow falls providing ideal conditions for the overseas testing teams.
>================ Recommend SnowCam Land and win.
More chances to win? That's unbelievable. Well I would say the chances are pretty infinitesimal but hey if you like our SnowCams and you want to tell someone about it then this is a pretty cool way to do it.
So to recommend our SnowCam page to a friend click here and you might even win a Palm Pilot III!
>================ Amuri snow area has a new name
The Amuri snow area in North Canterbury has a new name - Hamner Springs. Amuri was established in 1957 on Mt St Patrick which is 1 850 metres high and just 20km from the "thermal" town of Hamner Springs - about two and a half hours from Christchurch.
The Snow field is run by the Amuri Ski Club and the lifts tend to stay open as long as people want to ski and snowboard. Access to the runs is by way of one of the longest poma lifts in the country and two rope tows. The Poma used to be on the Knoll Ridge at the Whakapapa field so it has been well tested!
Hamner Springs has 10% Beginner, 60% Intermediate and 30% Advanced slopes. It is north facing and has a variety of terrain. It is not a big field but it is made up of three basins which has something for everyone. The season tends to run from early July to late September. A classic little club field in some good snow country.
>================ Sign our Guestbook
Well if you happen to be cruising around the KiwiNewZ site checking out the SnowCams or catching up on the latest SnowReport make sure you sign the KiwiNewZ Guestbook. Let us know where your from and tell us a little snow tale!
>================ Subscribe
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>================ Contact Details
Evan Bloomfield fx +64 3 442 8342
PO Box 2125
Queenstown 9197
AOTEAROA
Copyright, KiwiNewZ, 1999