Invincible Snowfields
Encyclopedia
Invincible Snowfields is a private ski resort near Glenorchy
Glenorchy, New Zealand
Glenorchy is a small settlement nestled in spectacular scenery at the northern end of Lake Wakatipu in New Zealand's south Island. It is approximately 45 kilometres by road or boat from Queenstown, the nearest large town....
in the South Island
South Island
The South Island is the larger of the two major islands of New Zealand, the other being the more populous North Island. It is bordered to the north by Cook Strait, to the west by the Tasman Sea, to the south and east by the Pacific Ocean...
of New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
.
The area is about one hour's drive west of Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
and is close to Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is an inland lake in the South Island of New Zealand. It is in the southwest corner of Otago Region, near its boundary with Southland.With a length of , it is New Zealand's longest lake, and, at , its third largest...
. Although it is a commercial operation, the field has few facilities and is run like an old fashioned club field, with its main drawcards being the backcountry terrain and feel, and it is targeted at advanced riders looking for natural chutes and gullies. There are no groomed trails. The field has a single 750m "nutcracker"-style rope tow, installed in 1996, powered by an old Ford tractor.
Access to the field is by helicopter from a site close to Glenorchy. The only accommodation available is a 10 person hut equipped with a wood fire and gas stove.
The field is part of Rees Valley Station, a 7290ha high country sheep station. Extensive snow cover on this property led to the development of both heli-skiing and the Invincible Snowfields operation.
Visitors to the field need to fend for themselves, carrying ski-touring equipment to ensure their own safety. This includes staying in a group and wearing an avalanche transceiver
Avalanche transceiver
Avalanche transceivers are a class of radio transceivers specialized to the purpose of finding people or equipment buried under snow. They are variously called Trackers, Pieps, or Arva's in a reference to some of the popular brands, "avalanche beacons" or "avalanche transceivers" - with many...
(beacon).