Ski Patrollers Release Neck-High Avalanche In New Zealand

According to the post, the avalanche was about 328 feet across, 656 feet long, and, in some places, six and a half feet deep. That’s certainly taller than your average ski patroller.

The avalanche broke on a buried weak layer that formed between July 5 and July 9 during a window of clear weather. The post also noted that Ōhau’s patrollers discovered similar weak layers in other isolated, sheltered, south-facing slopes above 1,900 meters. NZ Avalanche Advisory warned skiers traveling through this type of terrain to use caution.

“Persistent slabs can be tricky and surprise you where you least expect it,” the post reads. The latest forecast published by NZ Avalanche Advisory for the Ōhau area calls for “moderate” avalanche conditions, indicating that danger is higher on specific terrain features.

According to the forecast, wind slabs are the primary avalanche problem, but as the temperature warms, wet loose avalanches could present a challenge for backcountry skiers, too.

Since the New Zealand ski season began, Ōhau has amassed nearly three feet of snow in its upper mountain, off-piste area. Other, lower parts of the mountain have less snow. Around six inches of snow have fallen since Sunday.

Ōhau opened for the season on June 21 and intends to remain open until September 28, 2025, weather and conditions permitting. The small ski area has three lifts: two surface lifts and one double chairlift.

From the top of the chairlift, around 300 acres are skiable, but heading to the top of Mt. Sutton unlocks more terrain (Ōhau, like other ski areas, doesn’t conduct avalanche control outside of its boundaries).