198 m away
Drop Off
Not a run, but a series of cliffs that are a freerider's idea of heaven.
Severe Freeride Skiing
- Distance
- 717 m
- Ascent
- 0 m
- Descent
- 287 m
The infamous Motutapu Chutes - New Zealand sidecountry at its best
Freeride Skiing Severe
The 'Chutes' are a controlled part of Treble Cone. They are reached by going left off the Saddle chairlift, where you will find a boundary fence which has gates all along it. Only go to this area when the gates are open, otherwise you can get in a lot of trouble within the area, so respect what ski patrol say.
The chutes are made up of lots of couloirs of all difficulties. Generally they are on the steep and narrow side and you need to be a competent skier to get down them. NZ terrain is very harsh and will test your ability.
If you stick to skier's left (next to the boundary fence) then you can drop skier's right into various mini chutes - these are great if you want to just lap the chutes as you can easily traverse back out which means minimal amount of hiking.
If you head either fall line or out towards Hollywood Bowl then you will get into the guts of the Motutapu. These are the bigger runs and go all the way to the valley floor. There are many different chutes in here and you can usually pop out of one and into another. On a powder day you want to get in here early before it gets tracked out, it's definitely worth the hike back out.
Snow collects in the chutes and so there is a lot of patrol work that takes place, but time it right and you will have the turns of your life. If you go all the way to the valley floor then there is an easy 30 minute hike back up to the chairlift. If you stay skier's left (near the boundary fence) and ski the shorter chutes then you can traverse straight back to the chair. It just means you don't get to ride the full chutes.
Avalanche gear is still required, but the danger level is not so high.
Severe
Steep skiing at 38-45 degrees. This requires very good technique and the risk of falling has serious consequences.
198 m away
Not a run, but a series of cliffs that are a freerider's idea of heaven.
Severe Freeride Skiing
223 m away
A wide open bowl that funnels into steep terrain
Severe Freeride Skiing
227 m away
Open sidecountry above the Motutapu Chutes
Easy Freeride Skiing
467 m away
The steepest and narrowest of the Saddle gullies
Difficult Freeride Skiing
474 m away
Boot pack up to the summit
Difficult Freeride Skiing
533 m away
A huge, wide open area right in the middle of the saddle
Difficult Freeride Skiing
686 m away
A short but fun gully
Difficult Freeride Skiing
823 m away
The most playful gully in the saddle
Difficult Freeride Skiing
888 m away
A steeper walled pipe that collects a lot of snow
Difficult Freeride Skiing
903 m away
Hike to access Hidden Valley
Moderate Freeride Skiing
10 routes · Freeride Skiing · Ski Touring