Ohau Snowfields, New Zealand Report: Ear-To-Ear Storm Smiles

Paulie | | Post Tag for Conditions ReportConditions Report
Mining for white gold at Ohau. Photo: P.M.Fadden

A healthy wallop of long-awaited new snow has brought a shot of life to the Otago region of New Zealand and beloved Ohau Snowfields.

An 8โ€ณ (20cm) dose of dry, beautiful powder snow swirled in at Ohau. 

Moderate squalls (quite common to the region) have followed the most recent front. Theyโ€™ve done a fantastic job of pushing accumulation onto most South-Southeastern facets.

Birds Eye on a brilliant day at Ohau Snowfields. Photo: P.M.Fadden

Shutter flash viz, spunky gusts, and full-throttle fun are hallmarks of skiing the coattails of a storm cycle at Ohau. All have been dazzlingly present this week.

Sunbeams like spotlights dance across the faces and gullies. It lends a funky weather-gala feel to a ski day and is definitely a unique aspect of shredding Ohauโ€™s super rad slopes.

Headwall action is officially โ€˜On!โ€™ Photo: P.M.Fadden
โ€œCanteen up Ohauโ€; synonymous with epic views and yummy eats. Photo: P.M.Fadden

Family-owned and operated for decades, Ohau Snowfields stands apart among the pantheon of New Zealandโ€™s ski community. It combines the tech tricks of commercial skiing (think top-tier snowmaking) with a rustic family ski club feel.

โ€˜Hellโ€™s Gateโ€™; an Ohau classicโ€ฆand not for the faint of heart. Photo: P.M.Fadden
โ€ฆand the good just keeps on coming. Photo: P.M.Fadden

Ohau sports 125 hectares of skiable area, serviced by three lifts (carpet, platter, and 2-seater chair) and the ridgeline, which tops out at a panoramic 6300 ft of elevation. And awesomely, that ridge is accessed the old-fashioned wayโ€“bootpack escalator, going โ€˜up.โ€™

Around Ohau Snowfieldโ€™s particular portion of these stunning Southern Alps, shred season typically spans thru end-September/beginning-October, so there are bound to be plenty of good times and epic lines to come.

The vibe is feeling good for a fun couple months of New Zealand winter, and weโ€™re onboard, the whole way.

Cheers!


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