Trail planned to link Ruapehu skifields

By KEVIN TAYLOR

The North Island ski season kicks off today with the opening of the Ruapehu Ski Area - and a promise of a linkup between the volcano's two commercial fields.

Whakapapa and Turoa are now under one company after the Commerce Commission approved Ruapehu Alpine Lifts' buyout of Turoa last November.

RAL wants to link the fields by a ski trail, a plan requiring changes to the Tongariro National Park management plan.

While it awaits approval, the company is planning guided traverses around the volcano between the two fields later this year when ice becomes less of a danger.

Mt Ruapehu marketing manager Mike Smith said yesterday that after good snowfalls in late May and early June both ski areas had a 50cm base on the upper mountain.

Turoa's Alpine Meadows beginners area and The Giant and High Flyer chairlifts in the upper mountain would open today.

The beginners' slope at Whakapapa would also open today.

Several South Island fields, near Queenstown, Wanaka and Mt Hutt in Canterbury, have already opened. The Remarkables field opens tomorrow.

Mr Smith said that guided traverses between the two Ruapehu skifields - including ones via the crater lake - were planned this year.

"It will be pretty mindblowing," he said. The traverses would probably start in mid-August when there was not so much ice on the upper mountain. Those taking part had to be good skiers.

Mr Smith said the ski area was talking to the Department of Conservation about allowing a groomed trail between the fields.

It was hoped to open the trail next year but it would require changes to the park's management plan.

"It's very exciting for the future to get a trail going," Mr Smith said.

Meanwhile, skiers will be able to see conditions on the slopes in greater clarity on the internet from tomorrow when two webcams start operating again.

They have operated for the past three years and show views of Whakapapa and Turoa. New equipment will offer better images this year, updated every 15 minutes.

Links


Mt Ruapehu