Track damage and avalanche danger – Routeburn opening reviewed
A large slip has blocked and closed the Rees Dart Track near Dart Hut and Saturday’s (1 November) planned Routeburn Track opening will be reviewed with DOC and rescuers warning backcountry enthusiasts to beware of a heightened spring avalanche risk and the real risk of tree fall.
Wakatipu SAR and DOC experts say with the big snow dump on Monday there’s still a considerable avalanche hazard.
SAR volunteer Johnny Franklin says people should be very aware of the risk of avalanches, flooded rivers, landslide and unstable ground after the stormy weather during the past week.
“There will also be a lot of dead fall, large tree branches down over hiking tracks, in the backcountry,” he says. “If you come across these please report them to DOC immediately.”
Wakatipu Alpine Cliff Rescue coordinator Russ Tilsley echoes that call: “With all this new snow, it will heat up quite quickly causing an avalanche hazard, especially on the northern aspects. Wet slide avalanches in spring are common so be aware,” Tilsley says. Areas like The Remarkables and Ben Lomond are easily accessed so people need to be adequately prepared and skilled before heading into this terrain. “These wet avalanches can be a big mass and go quickly,” he says.
DOC Visitor Centre staff reiterate the calls for caution with the opening of the Routeburn, set for Saturday, to be reviewed, thick snow now coating the Harris Saddle section on top of last week’s severe high winds. About 15cm of snow was recorded around Routeburn Falls Hut on Tuesday.
A spokesperson says the Rees-Dart remains closed due to “a massive landslide” near Dart Hut that happened on Friday, and the Kepler Track is also partially closed with the alpine sections “loaded with snow”. “For the next while people are going to have to watch out for snow and avalanche danger,” she says. “Take heed of the SAR experts – the mountains are pretty loaded right now.”
She says those heading into the backcountry should be keeping up to date with the latest Mountain Safety Council Avalanche Advisory: “If you have zero knowledge of avalanche terrain, the danger and risks, then stay out of avalanche terrain and stick to the flatter ground under the bushline. Any snow has the potential for danger,” she says.
DOC Wakatipu operations manager David Butt says rangers and engineers will be heading into Mount Aspiring National Park within the next day or so to check out the state of the Dart slip and assess the safety of opening the Routeburn as planned on Saturday (1 November). “A decision will be made in the next 24 to 48 hours about the avalanche danger on the Routeburn,” he said yesterday afternoon (29 October).
Meanwhile, Metservice forecaster Allister Gorman says more snow is likely on the Milford Road and up on the ranges later today (Thursday, 29 October) and overnight with some rain, adding to the instability on some slopes. “Conditions around the tops will be slippery and require caution,” he says.
DOC Central Otago operations manager Charlie Sklenar says they’ve received reports of track damage with trees falling.
“We’ve removed some from high use tracks like the Outlet Track (Wanaka) and we expect more once the Aspiring Road opens,” she says. “People should be cautious, particularly in the backcountry where they may be the first to discover any damage.”
Reports should go to the DOC hotline:
0800 DOC HOT (0800 362 468)
