 WEATHER
WARNINGS |
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A HEAVY RAIN WATCH is current for areas about and west of the Main Divide on Tuesday (31/01/2012). |
| Notes: |
Heavy Rain Warnings are issued if a storm might deliver in excess of 100mm of rain within 24hrs (or 50mm in 6hrs), please be aware rivers in Arthur's Pass will flood given only 20-30mm of rainfall.
A Watch is displayed if a storm's intensity prediction hits a "Moderate" level of forecasters confidence.
| | Click Here for more detail storm analysis.
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| General Conditions & Avalanche Risk |
Saturday 28/01/2012:
Strong winds this morning; rain developing from west today. Climbers report some rockfall activity & some changed route conditions in response to continued after-shocks rolling through APNP, mostly north & southern extremities in Park (Mts Barron, Franklin, Rosamond, Davie).
Conditions have become marginal on some glacial access routes, with bergschrunds opening (though apparently Rolleston Crow neve is hanging in there still). Flooding has undermined gully ice where it persists creating weak, suspended ice-fields!
Removal of APNP DOC Intention System( 31 days remaining before Intention System will be removed! )Please take time to sign the Online Petition ( 273 signatures so far ) to the Minister for Conservation - Click Here.
I am still awaiting a reply to an Official Information Act request to DOC from 11 December 2011. For further updated comment & ministerial email addresses - Click Here.
DOC claims it's national policy is to remove ALL intention systems (except hut books at this stage; track-head books are to go as well), for consistency and removal of a perceived legal risk to its front-line staff managing such systems, not continued public safety considerations.
Arthur's Pass will be forced on 29th February 2012 to remove its current system, with the expectation that park users, including poor-english speaking tourists, will take up an inadequate online system provided by the Mountain Safety Council (MSC); DOC will be providing a single public terminal in the Visitor Centre only available during office hours- this is blatantly inadequate.
Mt Cook has been permitted to retain their system and MSC is quoted as saying in the Timaru Herald "the online system was not replacing the current system, but was intended to be an extension of it".
This is a very important issue in terms of continued public safety and effective search & rescues in the Park to which end I have resigned my front-line DOC job over, we must find solutions, or keep the existing system in place!
- Travel Advice: Generally safe avalanche conditions. Watch for unstable snow on isolated terrain features.
- Avalanche Activity: Small avalanches in isolated areas or extreme terrain.
More avalanche assessment detail - Click Here or visit www.avalanche.net.nz
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| Park Shot | 
11/01/2012: M+B Ellis sunset descent above cloud, Lake Mavis - APNP
(photo provided by Mark Ellis with thanks)
Click Image to open larger original in a Javascript window.
Click Here if it won't open!
If you'd like to submit a (non-commercial) recent outdoor activity image for the "Park Shot" (Arthur's Pass, Craigieburn or Torlesse accepted - 800 pixels wide minimum) please email
Click Here for a summary of Copyright Issues. |
| Getting High | 
14/01/2012: Ascent of West Face of Mt Edgar Thomson (2379m) - Ruataniwha Conservation Area - NZ
(photo provided by Dan Fruehauf with thanks)
Click Image to open larger original in a Javascript window.
Click Here if it won't open!
If you'd like to submit a (non-commercial) recent mountaineering image for the "Getting High" photograph (images must contain climbers/huts etc, and can be mountaineering/climbing from anywhere in the world - 800 pixels wide minimum) please email
Click Here for a summary of Copyright Issues. |
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| News |
- The new Siberia Hut is open (21/12/2011) - Aspiring NP
- The Poulter Valley track is open to walkers/mountain bikers again (closed to 4WD).
- DOC has removed Locke Stream hut (Taramakau River) radio permanently.
- Barker Hut (CMC) & Carrington hut (DOC) radios have failed.
- The "bad boys" are back - Vehicle breakins are common place at car parks / Park entry points outside of Arthur's Pass Village , leave no valuables in vehicle or park vehicle securely elsewhere; notify Police of any suspicious activity (take registrations)!
- The Rolleston River track is severely storm damaged (very slow going).
- The Mt Barron route (East Face route) have been thankfully recut/remarked by Hokitika DOC.
- NIWA have installed an automatic weather / avalanche station in the Mt Philistine area.
- The Otehake Valley has severe damage (very slow going).
- POO POTS are great but they cannot be disposed of in the Arthur's Pass sewerage systems; also DO NOT put them in our waste bins; YOU CAN put them in long drop toilets at one of the campsites.
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| Local Weather Station Data |
LATEST DAILY READINGS
Update: 29/1/12 0:00hrs NZST
Sunrise: 5:30hrs
Sunset: 20:00hrs
Temperature: 9.1ºC
Wind Chill: 6.4ºC
Humidity: 100%
Barometer: 1004.0mb (Falling)
Wind Speed: 17.7km/h
Wind Direction: NW
Wind Gust: 41.8km/h (0:00hrs)
Cloud Base:
730m ASL
Freezing Level: 2430m
Rainfall: 0mm
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THIS STORM CYCLE (56hrs)
Rainfall: 54.86mm
High Rain Rate: 14.1mm/hr @ 0:00hrs 27/01/2012
Temp Low: 2.2ºC
Temp High: 15.8ºC
Wind Gust: 98.1kmph @ 19:09hrs 26/01/2012
Dom.Wind Dir: West
Barometer Low: 991.4mb
SNOW MODEL (1800m)
Goldney Ridge (Mt Rolleston) 1800m
Alt. Temp: 2.94ºC
Alt. Wind Chill: -1.5ºC
Snow Fall-Line: 2034m
Remnant ice/snow present only.
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Click Here to view full weather station details. |
| Most Recent Condition Photos (x16) | Click on the following thumbnails to open the bigger picture in a viewing window (this requires JavaScript to be activited in your browser). If the image does not open, click on the image number to open it in a new window. Click Here to open the "Most Recent Photo Update" page where the last 42 updated images can be found.
1. 
Avalanche Peak (1833m)
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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2. 
Mt Alexander (1958m)
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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3. 
Mt Barron (1730m)
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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4. 
Mt Oates (2041m)
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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5. 
Mt Philistine (1967m)
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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6. 
Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Bealey Face
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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7. 
Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Rome Ridge
© SoftRock 24/01/2012
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8. 
Carrington Peak (2010m)
© Gerald Bruce-Smith 16/01/2012
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9. 
Mt Bealey (1836m)
© SoftRock 16/01/2012
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10. 
Mt Murchison (2408m)
© Gerald Bruce-Smith 16/01/2012
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11. 
Mt Temple (1913m)
© SoftRock 16/01/2012
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12. 
Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Otira Face
© Daryll Thomson 27/12/2011
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13. 
Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Otira Slide
© Daryll Thomson 27/12/2011
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14. 
Mt Philistine - Philistine Traverse (1967m)
© Brendan Clark 21/12/2011
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15. 
Mt Rolleston (2275m) - Sampson's Couloir
© Brendan Clark 21/12/2011
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16. 
Mt Howe (1660m)
© SoftRock 20/12/2011
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| General Information |
- Waimak Flood Route: DoC has reinstated (and rerouted) the Waimakariri flood route from Anti-Crow River to Greenlaw Creek which was severely damaged in the 1994 earthquake. It still has some issues that may cause the waimak to cut it off!
- Huts:The New Hawdon Hut is located upstream of Discovery Creek confluence below Walker Pass incline. Sudden Valley, Pfeifer, Poulter & East Hawdon Bivouacs have also been replaced. Hallejulah, Thompson, Waterfall and Top Cox Bivouacs have been permanently removed. Upper Cox Hut has been removed. Mingha Biv is to remain, it will be maintained by the Coast to Coast Race.
- AP Club Huts: Please note that NO ONE in Arthur's Pass Village has the door codes or keys to the NZAC, CMC or WCAC club huts, please get them before your arrival!
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