KEY POINTS:
A sudden blast of snow closed the Crown Range Rd yesterday, catching out dozens of motorists ill equipped for driving in alpine conditions.
For the second consecutive day, the weather alternated between wintry snow and rain and spring sunshine.
Police, road works crews and vehicle retrieval companies rescued
the occupants of at least 20 cars, a campervan and a bus that were not using chains and became trapped on the mountain pass between Wanaka and Queenstown.
Downer EDI Works spokesman Michael Scott, of Queenstown, said he made the call to close the Crown Range Rd at noon when cars without chains got into difficulties.
The wet spring snow appeared to be about 10cm deep and covered the ground at Cardrona Village within an hour. It then quickly turned to slush.
By 4.30pm yesterday, most vehicles had been retrieved. A few had slid off the road but most had stopped safely in laybys.
Constable Mike Thomas, of Wanaka, said no-one was injured and police had been able to locate the drivers of all the vehicles except one.
An avalanche of snow and ice that blocked the Milford Rd near the eastern end of the Homer Tunnel on Tuesday had been cleared by 2pm yesterday, allowing traffic to flow in both directions for a short time, Transit New Zealand Southland area engineer Peter Robinson said.
Several other avalanches had also occurred on the western side of the tunnel, although none had reached the road, he said.
The road closed again at 5pm yesterday as more snow threatened, and a decision was expected to be made this morning about when it would reopen.
The Department of Conservation issued another warning to trampers on the Dusky Track in Fiordland yesterday, after a swing bridge at the Kenneth Burn crossing in the Seaforth valley collapsed and fell into the river following damage from windblown trees.
Because of the bridge's location, people could tramp for about two hours before finding they could not continue and be forced to make a return journey, said Doc ranger Hamish Angus.
They would then have to wait until river levels were low enough for it to be safe to cross the river on foot.
Doc staff were also worried trampers using Fiordland tracks were failing to lodge intention forms or contact the Fiordland National Park Visitor Centre for updated track and weather information.
"People are responsible for their own safety. However, in the event of an emergency, the information provided on intentions forms is vital," Mr Angus said.
"It tells us where people are in the park so we can respond appropriately if necessary."
- OTAGO DAILY TIMES
