Avalanche
On Monday, a skier was buried in an avalanche near Wฤnaka’s Treble Cone ski area amid ongoing risks in New Zealand’s Southern Alps. The incident occurred in a backcountry area known as “Gotleibs” around noon when a group of five skiers triggered an avalanche that engulfed one of their members. The avalanche was 40 centimeters (16 inches ) deep, 30 meters (100 feet) wide, and traveled 200 meters (656 feet).
“Our party of 5 skiers made our way south along the Towers Ridge from the Towers Gate. We traveled along the ridge, knocking cornice blocks off along the way, with no signs of cracking, whumphing or avalanches. We skied the top pitch with dry, low density snow. It was good skiing! We then decided to continue down the steeper lower pitch of the Commitment Chutes, south towards the north branch of the Motatapu River. With a change in aspect, elevation and terrain we retrospectively agreed that we should have investigated the snowpack by digging a pit before dropping in, with more uncertainty and commitment in this terrain. We all congregated just at the top of the rollover before the first skier dropped into the chute. The skier made a ski cut across the top, with no result, and continued on, making 2 turns before fractures broke across the entire width of the chute, breaking about 20m above the skier. We watched the skier for the duration of their ride, before the avalanche stopped. The skier was not visible. Two rescuers began a transceiver search from the last seen point, one activated their Inreach, and one tried to make a 111 call (no service) before descending. The transceiver’s lowest reading was .9, the victim was probed, digging began and their airway was cleared at about 7 minutes. No loss of consciousness or injuries occurred for the victim. The victim was able to successfully clear an air pocket around their face by punching at the snow as the avalanche was slowing down. A rescue helicopter responded quickly thanks to the InReach SOS and transported the party back to the ski area. The weak layer was likely a persistent weak layer buried last week. The slab was soft- fist hard- and the area didn’t appear wind loaded. Of particular note, is that 3 of the party members are avalanche professionals. We realize we made mistakes, and it’s a valuable lesson in recognizing that there’s times where anyone can let their guard down and get caught out no matter your skill level or experience.”
The New Zealand Avalanche Authority reported that the buried skier’s companions, trained in avalanche rescue techniques, located and extricated the victim within seven minutes. This quick response likely prevented more serious injuries or fatalities.
Treble Cone ski area provides access to backcountry terrain through designated gates. Its website warns, “Treble Cone does not conduct avalanche control or provide Ski Patrol outside the ski area boundary. Before leaving the ski area boundary, please ensure you understand the risks involved in backcountry travel, carry the appropriate equipment, check local weather and avalanche conditions and forecasts, and always travel in a group.”
Treble Cone mountain manager Ewan Mackie confirmed that ski area personnel were placed on standby but were ultimately not needed, as all party members were accounted for. Police led the response and characterized it as “not a major operation.”
This incident follows a series of avalanches in the region, including a giant slide near Treble Cone on Saturday that prompted the deployment of avalanche rescue teams and helicopters. No injuries were reported in that event.
The New Zealand Avalanche Advisory currently rates the avalanche risk in the Wฤnaka area as “considerable,” the third-highest level on a five-point scale. This designation indicates dangerous avalanche conditions that require careful snowpack evaluation and conservative decision-making.
“There is a lot of fresh snow available for transport and more snow is predicted for Monday night so the risk of wind slab avalanches continues as snow is redistributed by strong winds from the north westerly quarter. These slabs could be reactive to the weight of a person and will become more reactive as wind transport increases, the potential for larger avalanches is increasing as more snow accumulates. Avoid avalanche terrain at mid and high elevations and consider what lies above you when travelling even in moderate terrain.”
“Despite the onset of spring, unseasonal snowfall and consistent westerly storms mean the avalanche risk remains significant,” the advisory stated. It urged backcountry travelers to exercise caution, select terrain carefully, and avoid triggering avalanches.
Authorities emphasize the importance of proper training, equipment, and decision-making for those venturing into backcountry areas. They also stress the need to report avalanche incidents to local ski patrols to prevent false alarms and unnecessary search operations.
