Avalanche terrain ratings for Aoraki/Mt Cook
Avalanches are part of life in the mountains. They can occur in any season, but are more common in winter and spring. Anytime that snow and steep slopes are combined there is potential for an avalanche.
There are two tools to help you assess avalanche danger - the Backcountry Avalanche Advisory (BAA) and the Avalanche Terrain Exposure scale system (ATES).
To find out more about these go to be avalanche alert.
How does ATES apply in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park?
The majority of the park and surrounding terrain is serious avalanche country.
There is very little simple terrain and a moderate amount of challenging terrain. The majority of the park is complex avalanche terrain, which demands respect from all who
use it.
All park visitors should consider carefully the class of avalanche terrain they are going into, and check the avalanche-danger advisory prior to undertaking any trip.
ATES in Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and surrounding terrain
Avalanche season
At higher altitudes avalanches can occur at any time of the year as snow falls year-round in the park. Climbers can be at particular risk during the summer at higher elevations.
During winter and spring, avalanches can occur on some park tracks, and on the Ball Hut road. To reduce risk, the following applies at three sites:
Hooker Valley Track
During periods of high risk to people at the outlet end of the lake, this track is closed. You should not go beyond the outlet end of the lake unless you have the right avalanche experience.
Ball Hut Road
Large avalanches regularly cross the road each winter and into the spring. You should not stop in any of the marked avalanche paths. Check with the visitor centre for the latest avalanche information prior to walking or four-wheel driving here.
Mueller Hut Route
The route to Mueller Hut travels through complex avalanche terrain. There is no way to avoid being exposed to avalanche danger on this route when there is enough snow in the start zones to produce avalanches. Check at the visitor centre to see if avalanches are likely to be an issue.
If you lack experience at travelling in avalanche terrain, our recommendation is that you should only go up or down from the hut when the avalanche danger is low.
If staying overnight in the hut, you need to be prepared to stay longer if the danger level rises while you are there.
Be avalanche aware!
If you are going into places avalanches could occur, make sure you:
- Have checked the ATES class for where you want to go and the BAA for the avalanche rating
- Have the skills for the ATES class you are going into
- Take an avalanche transceiver, a snow shovel and a probe. Know how to use these tools!
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