The planned opening date for Mt Ruapehu (Ruapehu Alpine Lifts) is Saturday 14th June 08

June is a fickle time for snow, we can have big dumps, and then the snowline can retreat with warmth or rain. There have been opening days where the road is closed due to a blizzard, and last year opening day was all rocks and just the smallest patch of "snow" on the learners slope not even worthy of a play on.

So, anything can happen and probably will. It's the time of year we all watch the weather greedily and we all become weather experts in our own head... Here are some of my favourite sites to monitor from my desk at work.
Volcano Cam
Met VUW
Met Service Mountain Forecast - For Tongariro National Park
Mt Ruapheu Snow Report (weather based on the National Met Service?)
Snow Forecast
sun-rock-ice site
a satellite map of South Tasman

And some useful Mt Ruapehu stats for the those unfamiliar with the RAL fields...
TUROA trail map 
1600m Base Area Plaza
2057m Giant Cafe (top of Giant Chair and High Flyer Chair)
2322m Top of High Noon Express quad and ski area boundary
2797m Ruapehu Summit (Tahurangi Peak)
WHAKAPAPA trail map 
1630m Iwikau Village (top o' the Bruce rd)
1760m Hut Flat (top of the first chairs)
2020m Knoll ridge Cafe
2245m Top of the Knoll Ridge T and ski area boundary
2035m West Ridge Cafe
2300m (approx) Top of Far West T and ski area boundary

Here's a recent pic... The Ruapehu Volcano Cam points to the Whakapapa side. The buildings you can see under the shadow of the Pinnicles (on the left) is the top o' the Bruce. Ideally you wanna see lots of snow here - or lower. Basically... looking at this pic, there is not much snow in the ski area on this side at present. Who knows what will happen after this weekend? June is the beginning of winter, apparently.

Of course, the club field on the eastern side cannot be forgotton. But more about TUKINO another time. So stay tuned for Winter 2008 folks, and enjoy the season!!