Industry News
Crowds flocked to the ski fields after a recent snowstorm brought over a meter (39 inches) of fresh snow to parts of New Zealand. More than 3,000 people visited the South Island resort of Mt. Hutt on Friday, July 3, making it the busiest day in the last decade for the mountain. Naturally, large crowds bring congestion. However, many of the delays, specifically those caused by stuck traffic, may have been entirely avoidable.
The access road to Mt. Hutt is certainly not for the faint of heart. One must drive its 14 km (8.7 miles) of winding, exposed, and often unguarded corners, before finally reaching the resort. The road, after large snowstorms such as the one seen in the opening days of July, can be particularly treacherous, especially for those unequipped.
Due to the nature of the access road, chain restrictions and requirements are often issued by Mt. Hutt to ensure those driving up to the ski field don’t slide off the road and cause massive delays (or worse). On July 3, an advisory was issued requiring those in two-wheel-drive vehicles to use chains on the access road. However, several drivers disregarded the advisory, causing huge delays for all visitors stuck behind them.
Six cars without chains got stuck on the snowy road. The decision by these drivers to attempt the climb in unsuitable vehicles led to delays of up to two hours for roughly half of those trying to reach Mt. Hutt, including staff. In response, Mt. Hutt decided to not shut down operations, but extend them until 5 p.m., so all those stuck in traffic could still have ample time on the mountain.
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Additionally, on Sunday, July 5, Mt. Hutt announced a new policy that took effect immediately. According to The Press, those who intentionally ignore chain restrictions and cause blockages for other guests will now be met with an 800 NZD ($483 USD) fine. This new policy comes as a direct response to the incident that occurred on Friday, July 3, and attempts to quell further hold-ups spurred by those disregarding chain restrictions and advisories.
