Skiers trigger avalanche, able to ski to safety

A group of skiers triggered an avalanche near Wanaka, but skied safely out of it.

A Treble Cone spokeswoman confirmed a group of skiers in an ‘out of bounds’ area near the Central Otago ski field triggered a size 2 avalanche in the Hidden Valley area about 12.30pm.

The avalanche was up to half a metre deep in open terrain, and the group of four skiers managed to safely ski out.

The group checked the debris and found no evidence any one else was in the area.

Staff initiated search and rescue procedures and informed Wanaka police.

A helicopter took two patrollers, along with two search dogs and two handlers, to the area to carry out a final search of the debris and the area was declared clear. Last week, the New Zealand Mountain Safety Council issued an avalanche warning for the mountains around Queenstown and Wanaka saying there was ’’considerable’’ danger for areas above 1000 metres.

The warning came after a group of guides triggered an avalanche behind The Remarkables ski field on July 25.

Ski area manager Ross Law- rence said the experienced group set off a ‘‘little shoot’’ and on a second pass later in the day realised a bigger avalanche measuring about 80 metres wide and running about 90m had occurred.

Last year, Sydney man Roger Greville, 58, died after being pulled from avalanche debris at Loch Linnhe in the Hector Mountains, near Kingston, while he was heliskiing.