Ski Patrol Rescue Three Rogue Sheep

Ski Patrollers undertaking snow control work following massive snowfalls at the South Island’s largest ski area Treble Cone in preparation for the ski area’s opening next week discovered three rogue sheep buried and trapped in the snow requiring rescuing.

The sheep were found alive at the top of the Saddle Basin at an elevation of around 2000m. The current reported snow depth on the storm boards in the Saddle Basin is 150cm and Ski Patrol have reported areas where the snow depth is currently two metres including the area in which the sheep were discovered on the Summit Ridge at the top of the Saddle Basin.

The first sheep’s head appeared out of the snow as Treble Cone Ski Patrollers Brian Newman and Rachel Stanford prepared to detonate small explosive charges as part of their snow control work given the significant snowfall. On closer investigation of the appearance of the sheep’s head, two additional snow buried sheep were found alive in the same area.

The sheep were recovered by a team of Ski Patrollers yesterday who dug them out of the fresh snow which had the sheep trapped heavily laden and weighed down, then the Patrollers shadowed the three sheep down to the top of the Home Basin before being strapped to toboggans and skied by Ski Patrollers down to the Treble Cone Base area from where they were transported back to a local farm.

The three sheep appeared to be cousins of NZ’s Shrek with long wool suggesting they may have spent at least 18 months rogue in the mountains before getting trapped by new snow and recovered by the Ski Patrollers.

Treble Cone officially opens next week on Thursday 27 June 2013.
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