4.15pm, Sunday 4 November - the last runs were had for the season. What a great way to finish and thanks for all the support since we got up and running a bit later than usual in August. We'll do it all again next year!
Opening for SNOWvember skiing! This Saturday and Sunday we will open the field and there will be limited access on the main tow, but some excellent runs to be had on the upper bowls, so soem hiking required. Rates will be heavily discounted for both the lodge and tow – somewhere around $50 for both accom and a lift pass.
A very wintery Labour weekend saw riders enjoy nearly all types of snow conditions, starting with wind packed powder on Friday and Saturday, spring corn on Sunday and over 20cms of fresh powder on Monday! If this keeps up, we may open up for another weekend, possibly our first November weekend for decades!
News flash: Opening up on Friday, then hope to remain open for the long weekend. Hopefully the upper road will be cleared on Friday, otherwise a short stroll up to the freshies. Plenty of accom from Friday night and discounted to $25/night, then $20/night for subsequent nights. This will be the last chance this season!
After a reccy on Sunday, we can report some substantial wind deposits of snow, some up to 2m deep! We will attempt to reopen on Saturday - weather permitting! The plan is to stay open all Labour weekend. Be prepared for a short walk as the last section of road has drifted over with snow.
A 10 cm dusting on Saturday night has got club members excited about a Labour weekend opening. The season isn't dead yet! We'll open up on Saturday for the long weekend. Only Awakino and Broken River are opening for this weekend.
A short but sweet 2012 ski season has come to an end. Thanks to all those who supported us after a late start. The lodge is available for group bookings and there will still be touring opportunities during October. Unfortunately no day trippers as access through the farm is limited because of lambing.
A further 8cm of snow on Monday night/Tuesday morning to keep the snowbase intact, althoguh with warm weather this week and the odd SW change, who knows what the weekend conditions might bring! Expect soft and windblown snow in any case.
3cm fresh snow lower down and 5+cms higher up. Come on up for some last turns in Oct while you can!
15cm of fresh snow received on Wednesday night, providing a nice late season top up. Plenty of space in the lodge.
15cm of fresh snow received on Wednesday night, providing a nice late season top up. Plenty of space in the lodge, and night skiing on offer on Saturday night.
Classic spring skiing early in the week and some keen skiers were even seen on straight 195cm GS skis glissading over the slopes. Also out of the mists emerged a snowmobile, which had traversed the summit ridgeline in search of the elusive yeti. We'll do it all again this weekend while the snow lasts.
Great cover in most places with a 60cm average base. Glacier Basin and Hut Creek are skiing sublime! We have remained open for 2 more days for a group booking, so come on up and take advantage of early week conditions!
The regular southerlies are keeping the snowpack topped up and maintaining a good coverage. Softening conditions when the sun is out. Plenty of space in the lodge this weekend and some primo spring skiing to be had by all.
A refresh on Saturday with some nice windblown powder. Last few hundred metres of the access road is full of snow, but only a short walk. It may get cleared this weekend. The season continues! Lodge full this Sat night, but space available on Friday night.
Some rough weather over the week will have changed the snowpack significantly. Still a good coverage in most areas, but the avalanche risk for back country travel will be higher due to the warm conditions and slide layers further down the snowpack. Sunday is looking like a better day for skiing - hopefully after a dusting of new snow on Saturday night! Plenty of room in the lodge this weekend.
Excellent coverage remains, with good spring snow conditions across the whole mountain. There is a promise of a top up of snow later this week.
Excellent skiing and riding conditions across the whole mountain. Average 80cm base.
A base of 80-120cms with more fresh snow falling on Sunday and likely to continue until Wednesday. We will be open this weekend for some epic runs. Avalanche gear recommended for those who wish to hike further into out of bounds areas.
The snow is here. Awakino has a base of around 70-80cm, with more in places, and full coverage across all basins. The mountain will be open this weekend, but chains are required for access to the lodge, and it's walking access only to the skifield. Epic conditions, enjoy them whilst they last.
Openinig brought forward a week to Saturday 11 August. Access may be limited depending on snow clearing on the road, so expect a walk from at least the lodge up. All bookings through Chris Tschepp.
A good base of firm snow has formed after the last storm and with more snow forecast, we expect to be open by Saturday 18 August. Snow is currently blocking the road above the lodge.
We now expect to have a base of snow after the latest storm and will assess things this weekend with a view to opening as soon as we can in August, hopefully by the second weekend. The skifield will not be open for skiing this weekend and the road will not be cleared of snow. The lodge is fully booked for a snowcraft course.
Depending on the outcome of a forecasted snow dump this week, we may be able to open in the second weekend of August. This weekend (3-5 August), the lodge is booked out by an OUTC Snowcraft course.
Pray for snow with Awakino's Dancing Jesus.
With little snow on the ground and August fast approaching, the clubbies are getting desperate.
However, hope is on the horizon with a significant storm forecast to hit on the 30th - 31st of July.
However, hope is on the horizon with a significant storm forecast to hit on the 30th - 31st of August.
The warm conditions on Friday, rain on Saturday and heat wave on Sunday have severely reduced the snowpack and softened it to a consistencey of porridge. This will further delay our opening until August some time.
There is a base of snow and patchy cover across the skifield. Not enough to open yet, so will delay for another fortnight and hope for a big dump.
The new rope has been installed and with a few minor tweaks will be ready to roll once the snow arrives!
Waitaki Ski Club volunteers have spent many days upgrading and preparing the skifield for the winter. Substantial maintenance works on the road have seen 4 new culverts installed, the road to the lodge regravelled and other road shaping and improvements. The lodge has been refitted with carpet, storage shelves and general maintenance and painting completed. On field, the water supply dam has been repaired, tow line straightened and building maintenance carried out. Once the new rope arrives, a final work party will see this installed in time for the '12 season.
We have received bookings already for two weekends in July as well as a long weekend at the end of August. Please contact us if you want to secure a weekend at Awakino this season.
Otago Anniversary Weekend Working Weekend. The usual suspects are heading up this weekend for more work on the road, lodges and rope tow. The main lodge and Nissan Hut will get a lick of paint, the return pulleys and safety on the tow will be fixed, and the road will finally be returned to its state before Peter's old 2wd Nissan ate it up a few seasons back. Expect the lodge to be full and the Neil Young to be loud.