In New Zealand's North Island ski fields there is a less likely risk of avalanches, but there is a risk of the above. This photo is from Winter 1996. The two main North Island ski fields are on an active volcano - Mt Ruapehu. No molten lava when this girl blows - but masses of smoke, steam, rocks and mud. So ski season cancelled and all aeroplane flights on alert and on a restricted )stay well clear) flight path.
Thankfully Ruapehu has been quiet this year. Down in the South Island there were very early falls of snow - a bumper ski season. Now there is active avalanche control with daily inspections and blasts.
Yet still over this week and the two preceding it there have been big avalanches, 3 separate deaths. And others injured. This geologically young land can be fiercely rugged and a major challenge.
Special thoughts to the families of those who died, those injured and to our dedicated specialist land and mountain rescue teams.
(The search and rescue people (LANDSARS) are pretty much all volunteers. They work very closely with the Mountain safety people, Ham radio volunteers who co-ordinate the communications and our Police).
7 comments:
Whoa! That's a might impressive plume coming off that mountain! Is that very near where you live? I live within view of two mountain ... Mt. St. Helen's (which blew it's stack in the 80's) and Mt. Hood. I've never seen anything like this up close! Whew! What does your kitty cat think of nature's huffing and puffing?
yes - Volcanoes in the North Island.
South Island has been very cold over May to July. Now Cold snow falls alternating with thaws = full on avalanche season. So scary.
Weird that here in Wellington, only a few hundred Kilometres away, we never have to face this.
New Zealand is, I guess, long and thin. Very Different Climate conditions from the North to the South, over seemingly small regions compared to the big continents that lurk out there, especially in the north American Continent and the European Continent.
From here to any other country involves "going overseas", thus the Kiwi OE - overseas experience that many young folks take on (Yes, Mickle did this back in 1987/88)
I've gone completely "off subject". Will get SARS and mountain rescue stuff/info from Dad and my neighbour, Lyndsey who works for the mountain safety Council. Then can share with you - whether you wont to know or not!!!
Bysie byes for now.......
Oh Paula - Mt St Helens near you!
Takes a few hours drive from my home to get to see our volcanic plateau.
I live right beside one of our major earthquake fault lines, have since aged 4 so am used to it.
See - here we don't have snakes, bears, wild cats, wild dogs, moose, deer ticks, scorpions, crocodiles or alligators....
When Humans first arrived in NZ (1300 to 700 years ago - is disputed when) the only mammals here were two types of wee, night time bats. Only mammals since have been humans and what they introduced.
Zebby and self don't see the volcanic stuff.
I so remember Mt ST Helens big blast -it did a sideways slumpo then - whooosh, ash everywhere, and lives lost.......
Paula, hope is kind of safe where you are now.
Animals may be very sensitive to seismic happenings - mostly Zeb doesn't notice. Electrical storms right above are a different thing. Without my loving arms Zeb hides in the back of the wardrobe/closet, as far back as he can get.
Guess who is whacking me in the back right now?
Scary stuff, I'm glad that here in OZ we don't have any active volcanos. However I remember when Mt. St. Helen's blew out in the 80's I was working night shift in Adelaide. The sunrise (which was the time I was leaving work for the trip home) was a bright red sky, brought about from all the dust particles in the atmosphere. Amazing when you think about the distance between Adelaide and Mt. St. Helen's.
Olive - do you remember the incredible sunsets after Mt Pinatubo in the Philippines blew in June 1991?
Mt Ruapehu - at this time of the year they have to do daily avalanche checks and blasting of damgerous snow for the ski fields. Always there are remote seismic monitors at the top and down the sides reporting on volcanic and earthquake activity. A huge risk is the crater lake overflowing, forming a lahar.
Ah - but no snakes or crocodiles, and only a non-deadly Aussie spider has settled here so far (the white tail - nasty but non-fatal bite). No foxes either.
There is the wee matter of a snoring cat............
Our avalanche season always hits near the end of winter as snow starts to melt and temps start to rise. Seems it just wants to give way and go down the mountain then instead of looking pure and pristine on the top.
Sorry to say Michelle, that when one works night shift 11PM-6AM, sunsets are not often seen. The whole day is turned up-side down, and one sleeps until about 8pm. (So glad I dont do that anymore)
And yes, we DO have scary critters here in OZ, but, they dont hurt you if you dont disturb them :-) I wouldn't even take a bath if I lived in the "top-end". !! I've heard of the odd croc in swimming pools up there, not to mention the cane toads, but thats 3000 km away. However I have heard of the white tail spider inflicting a nasty bite where the flesh rots away UGGH!!
The fox doesn't harm humans, only the chooks and baby lambs and the red back spider "plays dead" when disturbed. So there is nothing to worry about, come to visit, nothing will harm you here, except maybe a snake. Time your visit when they are hibernating, you'll be Jake mate!! (thats Ok in Aussie speak) When can we expect you? LOL
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