With clear skies forecast for the first weekend in July, we decided to head to Mount Hutt to investigate the skiing. The unseasonably warm weather we have been having has been a welcome surprise, but it has meant that the ski fields here have been rather struggling this season.
The drive to Mount Hutt took us across the Canterbury Plains, the journey went by quickly as we passed through the fields of crops and sheep towards the snow-capped mountains in the distance. The route crossed the turquoise Rakaia river before starting the climb up to Mount Hutt.
The road up to Mount Hutt is a dirt track that clings to the side of the mountain. I was too busy holding on to take photos but we will get some next time!
As we expected not all of the terrain was open this early in the season, but we did a few runs and were able to get up to the ridge to enjoy the views out across the Southern Alps.
We had a great afternoon skiing, enjoying the sunshine and views; standing on the ridge we could look one way and see the the Southern Alps and look the other way and see the Banks Peninsula and the Pacific Ocean in the distance! Now we just have to hope for some more snow so that we can get back for some more skiing.