BLIZZARD ON RUAPEHU

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22211, 11 September 1935, Page 12

BLIZZARD ON RUAPEHU

WORST FOR SOME TIME HEAVY FALL OF SNOW ■' }§ SKI-ERS IN DIFFICULTIES [BT TELEGBAPH O-Vr-N CORRESPONDENT^ THE CHATEAU. Tuesday One of the -worst blizzards experienced at Mount Ruapehu for a considerable time reached its height on the mountain this afternoon, and parties at the ski grounds on Scoria Flat had a most unpleasant journey back to the' Chateau. Conditions were much less severe on the lower levels, and the intensity of the storm appeared to be diminishing in the evening. Snow commenced falling last evening and continued steadily throughout the night and to-day. At times during the day it was lying to a depth of Ift. about the Chateau, but it melted quickly, and there were not more than a few inches to-night. Light snow is still falling this evening. Several parties of ski-ers went up to Scoria Flat this morning, but by the afternoon a bitterly cold southerly wind and heavy snowfall made ski-ing irapossible. Visitors returning down the mountain encountered the full strength of the blizzard. Visibility was reduced to about 6ft., and it was impossible to see one pole in the pole-line from the next. Owing to the strength of the wind, parties were unable ,to return to the Salt Hut for shelter, and they had no option but to' proceed down the mountain. A guide who was at Scoria Flat during the day said the blizzard was the worst he had seen there. About 2ft. of new snow fell on the higher levels. The snowfall is oportune, as it will ensure good ski-ing conditions for sev» eral weeks. The large parties of schoolboys from the Auckland and Takapuna Grammar Schools and Hamilton Technical School engaged in a competition for the best snowman in front of the Chateau during the day. Ten or fifteen were made, some of them excellent efforts. A snowfight also was held, and it developed into a battle royal. A large number of the schoolboys will make a trip to Ketetahi to-morrow.