Playtime for snowbound students
The 40 students stuck up Mt Ruapehu because of “horrendous” conditions are making the most of all the snow.
The Year 13 Wellington High School students are among more than 80 people who have been trapped on Tukino Skifield for the past two days.
Tukino Skifield manager Sue Graham said everyone was warm and safe and there was plenty of food. She said the students had been playing in a massive snow drift making caves and tunnels. “They’re just having a ball. “There’s a massive snow drift on the lee side of the building which means it’s totally sheltered. They’ve dug a whole raft of tunnels and are having a great time.”
The students and dozens of other people have been staying in three lodges as they wait for an access road to be cleared.
Graham said they planned to make a break for it in a calm weather window that should come around this morning.
“We’ve got appalling conditions and if we tried to clear the road going down — which is 14km long — we’ve got an issue then of it all just blowing straight back in behind us and people getting stuck on the road.
“On this occasion we have a lot of young people and it would be best to keep them here safe than take any chances of going out and getting into problems.
“It’s a pretty hostile environment Fine with southerlies, high of 14C. Fine with winds dying down, high of 14C. Crisp start to a fine day, high of 16C. Fine with light winds, 17C. Fine with southerly breezes, high of 15C. Morning frost, 15C. Strong southerlies, snow showers clearing. High of - 3C. Cloudy at first then fine with light winds. when you’ve got a storm . . . Mt Ruapehu has always been able to offer up the very best and very worst of weather.”
Graham said they have “enough food to sink a small battleship”. She said the students had designed their own menu so were cooking their meals.
“They’re pretty creative, let me tell you. One boy I saw the other night had one giant steak and a big pile of chips. He was very happy. Then some girls did a big stir fry with every vegetable in creation.”
A spokeswoman for Wellington High told the Herald their group had been due to return home last night. However, because of the weather conditions, they were now due back today. The school and parents had been in contact with the students and staff, who were all said to be in good spirits.
“They’re all just holed up in their lodge and enjoying the scenery and having a great time,” the spokeswoman said. “They’re checking in really regularly and all the parents know what’s happening, so it’s all happy days.”
Skifield managers will decide at 7am whether to open Whakapapa, Turoa and Tukino for the day.
The weather that covered the country, dumping snow on the Central Plateau, isn’t expected to last for long.
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