Powder on the Glaciers
Posted on Thursday, 9 September 2010 in Back Country
Sunday was a powder day in the Turoa backcountry. A cold southerly storm deposited 25cm or more over the prior couple days and with good stability we were able to get first tracks on the upper Mangahuehu Glacier. By afternoon a rising northwesterly drove us to find some more protected skiing at mid-elevation in some gullies to the south of the Girdlestone. Smooth wind-buffed powder extended well down the mountain, far further and lower in elevation than even a week prior. By mid-afternoon the winds had become quite strong so we retreated back to the ski field for hot drinks in the cafe. At days end towering lenticular clouds extended off of the summit of the mountain, stacked like giant pancakes in the sky it was a tell tale sign of the unstable weather which was to affect the region over the following couple days.
