SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28979, 21 August 1959, Page 9

SNOW AND ICE CONDITIONS

Good Prospects For Week-end

The first of the spring snow is beginning to form in the Canterbury ski fields and conditions for ski-ing this week-end are ideal. There has been little fresh snow this week, but slight thaws and hard frosts at night have produced even snow, with fine powder on top. There is still snow on the access roads to the Craigieburn Valley area and it is still advisable for motorists to use chains. The conditions of the various ski-ing areas are: Craigieburn Valley, Broken River Basin and Mount Cheesman.—Snow in first-class condition; level for ski-ing at 3800 ft, tows operating. Arthur’s Pass. — Weather . fine and snow in good order. Snow level at 3500 ft; rope tows in operation. Mount Olympus.— Road open to the bottom hut. Snow fell last week-end and has packed down well. Tows are operating and the skiable level is 3500 ft. Hanmer. — The access road is open and the level of snow is about 3800 ft. Both the main tow and the portable tow at Jack’s Pass are operating. Lake Ida.— A large area of- ice is still safe for skating. The prospects for skating this week-end are good, provided the weather holds.