DEEP SNOW ON EGMONT

Taranaki Daily News, 17 June 1933, Page 6

DEEP SNOW ON EGMONT

HEAVY FALLS YESTERDAY ALL SIDES OF MOUNTAIN COVERED PROSPECTS FOR WEEK-END SPORT. If the wind drops conditions should be ideal for visitors to Mt. Egmont during the week-end. A light snowfall commenced on Thursday night, increasing to a steady fall all day yesterday and all last night, so that the snow now lies round the North Egmont hostel to a depth of seven or eight inches. The manager, Mr. Nodder, reported last. night that while snow and even soft hail had fallen, there had been no rain, so that even with the wind prevailing the mountain should be in ideal condition for ski parties and trampers. With a driving wind the snow is banked on one side of the North Egmont track in most places, so that the road is still easily negotiable. No difficulty was experienced by Mr. Nodder when he drove up the track last evening. There has been no fall at the gate, the first patch of snow lying on the track at about 2000 feet, or 2J miles down from the hostel. - . Snow began to fall at the Stratford house about 11 o'clock on Thursday night, states Mr. Haldane, the custodian, and it has been snowing almost without intermission for the last 24 hours. The indications last night were that it would snow all night and all to-day. . The day was grey and very misty at the Strafford house yesterday, and snow fell quietly through a still atmosphere. At Stratford itself there was a piercing wind and rain squalls punctuated with sunshine. There was six inches of snow outside the Stratford hostel at seven o’clock last night, and there seemed good prospects of a level foot by this morning. . , The snow has fallen as far down as the Stratford gates, and there is nearly 12 inches on the plateau. The conditions should be ideal for skiing and climbing to-day and to-morrow. Heavy falls of snow have also been experienced at Dawson Falls. Towns at the foot of the mountain are aU feeling the effects of the fall. In New Plymouth sleet was noticeable for quite a period during yesterdaymorning.