Overnight on Mt Hutt they had 1.2 metres of snow. Which means there is a high risk of avalanches. All the runs need to be groomed with a piste basher.
So the mountain is CLOSED for the day.
Being there is so much snow in Methven and with a risk of it all freezing overnight I decide to drive to Christchurch after lunch. Once the snow ploughs had cleared the roads a bit and some had melted. I spoke to someone in Methven who said they only have this much snow every 3 or 4 years.
I started to dig my car out of the snow but then the man from the hostel insisted on doing it for me. I gingerly drove out of the hostel but needed petrol. I managed to wedge my car in a foot of snow on the forecourt and couldn't move backwards or forwards. Another kind man helped me to move, then I filled up with petrol and drove gingerly down the road.
The next half hours driving was scary, on snowy, icy roads made worse as it was also foggy. But then the snow just disappeared.
I drove onto Leigh and Greame's house near Christchurch. Fish, chips and wine. Just what I needed.