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Posted on Friday September 3rd at 8:57 a.m.
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Due to the construction of the new Knoll Ridge Café Ruapehu Alpine Lists (RAL) have moved the snow stake slightly further down the ridge line. These readings are really for the mountains and RALs historical and scientific purposes. This is the snow level you see on the report each morning. Obviously there will be more in gullys, less on some ridges, more up high and generally less down low.
For long term users of the ski field this will give them a reasonable idea of what the snow is like, but for anyone new it will not necesarily give a good indication. It is also worth noting that most of the snow we recieve is wind affected. There are times when we recieve fresh coverage and accumulation yet this might not necesarily amount to anything on the stake.
We also measure the amount of new snow we have recieved in a 24 hour period every day. We do this using a set of boards placed on the ground. These are measured at a set time each day in the morning as per national guidelines. These boards are situated right next to the 'snow stake' and thus receive the same amount of snow as the snow stake, however, we need to first discuss one small hitch - Settlement.
Settlement is the term used by snow professionals to describe the process of the snowpack effectively 'sinking' over time, at Ruapehu this happens very quickly (just a few hours when the snow is newly fallen). Before you get up in arms about our snowpack dissapearing - settlement is a good thing. It helps make the snow stronger and means we can get slopes open more quickly than in an area where snow settles slowly (i.e Canadian Rockies).
The reporting of the snow base is only one tool RAL uses to illustrate the skiing and boarding conditions currently available on the Ski Area. Do not hesitate to call Customer Services to get a more descriptive report.
Whakapapa plans to move towards a method of reporting the snow levels to better explain the quality of the riding conditions and better averages of the snow coverage at the different levels on the mountain.. The shape this will take is something that staff will be working on over the summer months in order to provide you with a more comprehensive and descriptive reading of the snow conditions for the 2011 season.
For More Information Visit Mt Ruapehu