Treble Cone Powder day in November - Where is Kyle Miller?

Treble Cone seems to be a place I only go to once it is closed for the season. Being so close to Wanaka and the biggest resort on the South Island it pulls in a lot of people. If it’s a powder day you can expect that number to double. From my one previous experience we had two good powder laps before the place was tracked out. So when snow arrived in late November and I had a few days left on my trip it was time to give the place another chance.

Heading up to Treble Cone

Being that the ski resort was closed I called the people at Treble Cone and found out the gate was opened between 9 A.M. and 4 p.m. Knowing that we would have to be careful about time Manu and I made it up the Matukituki road. Soon we were past the gate and driving up to the resort with the mountains caked in snow.

Making our way past the bottom gate of Treble Cone

Driving up the road was sketchier than usual as we were putting in the second tracks on a snow covered road. We made our way up the switchbacks and took in the views of Lake Wanaka.

Driving up the ski resort road plastered in snow with Lake Wanaka in the distance

Arriving in the Middle of a Snow Storm

Getting to the resort the upper slopes were in the clouds. There was no snowpack on most off the main face but there was a few centimeters of fresh snow. The plan was to hike up to the ridge before moving to the backside. Since it was south facing there would still be snow. Or we hoped there would be snow.

A powder day up at Treble Cone in mid November — Arriving at the ski resort after a random November storm

We followed the main groomer up the front side being able to skin from the base. The higher we climbed the deeper the snow got. By the time we made it over to the backside there was over 20 centimeters of new snow.

The backside of Treble Cone loaded with new snow — Making our way to the backside as the map is getting buried in snow

With the snow being so good we decided to skin above the main groomer up up to the high ridge before the descent. By now the clouds had risen and we were rewarded with good visibility.

Skinning up the backside ridge before our first lap

Our First Lap off the Backside

For our first run we followed the ridge down the backside as long as the snow would allow. We were the only people out there putting tracks in the new snow.

Putting in first tracks down the backside of Treble Cone — Laying down tracks off the backside

As we rode lower the snow pack started to thin out. We found a nice gully to ride and almost made it to the base of the chair.

Riding the one strip of snow off the backside of Treble Cone — Making use of what snow is left off the backside

With the only ribbon of snow tracked out and the gate closing relatively soon we decided to head over to the front side. There was a question over if the would be rideable but we would have to go that way to leave the ski hill.

Skinning back up after towards the summit ridge

Making over toward the ridge dividing the front and back sides we made a low traverse heading for the high ridge. The weather was quite dramatic as the sun broke here and there lighting up parts of the mountains in the distance.

Skinning to the summit ridge of Treble Cone ski resort — Heading towards the top with Lake Wanaka in the distance

Our Final Lap off the Front Side of Treble Cone

Once on the ridge we had a dramatic view of the Matukituki valley. The clouds blocked our view of Mount Aspiring National Park but it was beautiful non the less. Seeing the snow plastered to the mountains it was wild to think it was mid November.

Dropping in for our last run the snow was really good the higher in elevation you could get. Working with the slopes we made our way down to the main groomer and were happy that it was ridable.

Dropping in for the final run of the day

We were able to make our way down the main groomer as it still had a snowpack. Early in the morning there was a fear that the front side wasn’t rideable but it was much better than expected.

Enjoying a groomer all the way to the base

We were able to ride all the way down to the base finding powder the whole way. Being late in the afternoon there was only an hour before the gate closed so it was time to leave. With the conditions so good we had made the most out of what snow was left. It was a great day and the perfect way to end my trip in New Zealand.