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.
Plan your trip - be avalanche aware
Summary
The majority of Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park and surrounding terrain is serious avalanche country.
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.
If you travel through backcountry terrain exposed to avalanches, you must accept that you are taking a risk.
You need to understand these risks before setting out.
This brochure explains two assessment tools to decide whether your trip in Aoraki is "worth the risk".
These are:
- Avalanche Terrain Exposure Scale system (ATES)
- Backcountry Avalanche Advisory (BAA)