I'd checked the snow conditions at Mount Hutt and decided I had time to fit in a cheeky day's ski-ing before going to stay with my friends in Christchurch.
It had rained all night and all morning as I drove towards Ashburton. It was still raining when I stopped for lunch at Ashburton. I went into the information centre and asked about ski-ing and they said drive to Methven.
I had driven 5 minues down the road when it changed from rain into snow. All the cars coming the other way were covered with snow. I wondered whether to carry on but I didn't really have much chance to turn round.
By the time I reached Methven everywhere was covered in about 8 inches of snow. I went into the information centre who found me somewhere to stay. I said they hadn't mentioned snow back in Ashburton. I was told It had just started snowing there to.
I checked into the Backpackers. It continued to snow for the rest of the night.
Lots of the people staying here are working in the ski area.