The wind at Mount Hutt ski field died down overnight and 300 stranded skiers were able to be driven off the mountain.
Mt Hutt College boys having fun (L to R): Jack Sheridan, Travis Howden, Tobi Dalglish, Jordan Charterix, Josh Ree, Levi Fiddymont, Lachy Mee Photo: GEORGIE BOYD
The skiers, including 270 schoolchildren, took shelter in the ski-field cafe on Wednesday night, after blizzard conditions had reduced visibility on the access road to almost zero.
At 1.30am, Mount Hutt manager James McKenzie said works vehicles had cleared the road of snow and the wind has died down, allowing a safe exit.
Buses transporting Mount Hutt College students were followed by those in private vehicles and ski field personnel.
The ski field will be closed on Thursday while staff recover.
Mt Hutt College deputy principal Caleb Gorrie earlier said 20 teachers were with the students, who were on the school's annual ski day. The school decided at midday to send the students skiing, on the advice of Mt Hutt staff.
"We have a school policy that when the mountain is open we proceed with our plans to go ahead with a full school ski day ... and that's the status it was all through the early morning."
He said the students were quite happy, with one girl texting asking if she could stay longer because the meals are free.
Girls from Mt Hutt College get creative in the cafe while stranded. (L to R) Leanne Dixon, Penelope Geortzen, Hayley Riordian, Isabelle Talbot, Alesha Ingham. Photo: GEORGIE BOYD
Mr McKenzie said earlier in the day the Year 7 to 12 students were all in good spirits and many went out to "play around" in the new snow.
"We've received 10 to 15cm of new snow so far today, and while visibility has closed our chairlifts we've still got the Magic Carpet going for them and they're pretty excited to be up here enjoying that," he said. "I think the majority will look back on this as one great adventure."
Mr McKenzie said the ski area management was aware of an approaching front and a poor forecast but the situation deteriorated "pretty quickly".
"We made a decision to close the mountain at 11.30 this morning and a number of people made it safely down the road," he says.
"However at midday a combination of new snow blowing around everywhere and wind gusts of up to 45kmh, especially around the Saddles, meant visibility along the upper section of the access road deteriorated to the extent we closed the road completely.
He said buses will be allowed down the road only when it is safe to do so, with ski staff leading bus drivers in pilot vehicles. In the meantime, guests were being fed.
Mt Hutt has, in the past, kept people on the mountain overnight for safety reasons. On 13 August 2010, 1200 people were stranded for nearly 24 hours.
