Mt Hutt to improve reports

Press, 7 July 1977, Page 1

Mt Hutt to improve reports

Each time skiers complained about variance between reports and actual conditions at Mount Hutt, the company running the ski-field realised there was room for improvement, said the manager of the Mount Hutt Ski and Alpine Tourist Company, Ltd (Mr P. Yeoman) yesterday.

As a result of discussions with the Weather Office since the week-end, when several cars were trapped up the mountain after a blizzard, the company intended to have much closer liaison with the Weather Office, he said. . Mr Yeoman was speaking at a press conference called by the company to answer questions that had arisen since the blizzard on Saturday. Skiers, having heard favourable reports from Seekers, and at the tolldate to the ski-field, had

travelled there only to find a blizzard and little chance of ski-ing. A meteorological expert estimated that the wind on some places of the private road to the ski-field was gusting up to 90 knots and the average mean speed would be 60 knots — well above storm force. Snow was also being driven by the wind. The wind was a southerly, which was much stronger than a southwesterly. Mr Yeoman said that the company by no means intended to lure or entice skiers up the mountain with promises of good ski-ing conditions. About 350 tickets were sold that day at $6 each. It was the company’s policy that tickets were nonrefundable and non-trans-ferable This was stated on the tickets. “Caveat emptor: let the buyer beware. Mr Yeoman said.

An account was given by Mr Horner, the acting skifield manager on Saturday, while Mr Yeoman was in Australia.

A report had been telephoned to Seekers at 6.30 a.m. after estimates had been made of conditions on the ski-field, Mr Homer said. It was still dark at the time, but a northerly wind was blowing and the weather was clear. A similar report was given at 7.25 a.m. on the radio, when the weather was still clear. At 8.37 a.m., the report to Seekers was updated, saying that it was snowing slightly. This was the last report to Seekers, he said. Tlie signboard outside the tollgate which until then had showed the wea a ther fine and the snow excellent, was then covered with a board, but this had blown down - without the staff knowing about it, he said.

“I know it sounds strange, but that is what happened,” Mr Horner said. A blackboard outside the tollgate had showed that it was snowing on the ski-, field, and another sign said that chains were essential. Some motorists were also told verbally that it was snowing.

Mr Homer said that it was not until after midday that the wind had started to “develop” on the skifield.

“At 1.15 p.m. we advised people over the publicaddress system that the field would be closing; it was closed at 2 p.m.,” he said.

“Bv 3.30 pm., on the wav down, conditions were really bad,” Mr Homer said. “It was blowing so hard outside that it was hard to stand up, and so we advised people to stay in their cars.”