Snow Rogaine - Snow Farm

MT Outdoors Snowgaine 2025

Get your entries in HERE! ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 15th AUGUST!

Entries are now open for our Snow Rogaine next Sunday, 17th August and we are going ahead despite the lack of snow so far this season. We are keeping our options open and either will run this event as an event on foot (with no trail passes or skis required) or a ski touring/ cross country ski/ snow shoe event. We will be setting the controls to maximise the existing snow, and with any luck give some skiing/ boarding/ sliding/ snowshoeing/ running up on the Pisa Range.

This will be a fun event with a prize giving, some excellent prizes from RAB and MT Outdoors, a bbq to finish. It's a great opportunity to practice your navigation in the mountains if you are training for Spring Challenge, Godzone or are just keen to improve. Due to the exposed mountain environment this event takes place in we will not accept individual entries and all competitors will be required to carry a cell phone and some compulsory emergency gear.

If the Snowfarm gets more snow later this week and the trails are open next weekend you will need to get trail passes for the day, and use either skis/board/snowshoes on trail (ie no running shoes). Trail passed will be available through the Snowfarm website specifically for this event at a discounted price. Check our website early next week for an update on this and also we will email our competitors with information about this. Otherwise if the trails are officially closed, no trail pass will be required and running shoes may be worn on the trails.

Event Schedule

Entries close Friday 15th August, midnight. Please get your entries in before midnight Friday 15th August so we can sort maps and catering, and get final coms out to you. We would prefer that you pay online rather than bring cash on the day.

 Sunday 17th August

9:30 am - Registration and map handout opens for 4 hour event

10:20am - 4 hour event briefing

10:30 am - 4 Hour event starts

11:30am - Registration and map handout opens for 2 hour event

12:20pm - 2 hour event briefing

12:30pm - 2 hour event start*

2:30pm - 2 hour and 4 hour event finish

2:30pm - post event bbq begins

3:00pm - prize giving 

3:30pm - depart snowfarm

*If teams entering the 2 hour need to start earlier this can be arranged by emailing remarkables.orienteering@gmail.com. 

Compulsory Gear

To be checked at registration -

Per competitor -

Thermal top and bottom

Waterproof jacket and overtrousers

Warm hat and gloves

Fleece/ insulated jacket

1 x cell phone per team

Compass

Further Info...

What is a SNOWGAINE?

You will compete as a team of two or more to navigate and collect as many checkpoints as you can in 2 or 4 hours. This will based from the Snowfarm and will cover some of the ski trails as well as some awesome backcountry terrain up on the Pisa range. You may use snow shoes, (optionally running shoes if trails are officially closed), cross country skis or ski touring gear. You will need to carry a backpack with spare warm clothes (see gear list) and enough food and drink for 4 or 2 hours exercise.

After collecting your map you will have some planning time to figure out which checkpoints you will aim to collect. You can go as far you want, or just aim to stick on the nearer trails. Controls are worth different amounts (with the tens number in the control indicating it's value ie - 86 = 80 points). You are trying to collect the largest total control points in 4 hours.

How do I get there?

Located high on the Pisa Range, the Snow Farm is accessed from the Cardrona Valley Road which connects Wanaka and Queenstown.  The road up to Snow Farm is not sealed but is suitable for most vehicles including 2WD cars.

All vehicles travelling to Snow Farm must carry chains in their car in the event it has or is snowing and the road conditions are such that chains must be fitted. Signage on the road will indicate where you should fit chains. These signs are there for your protection and must be obeyed. 

Map scale 1:15000. Contour interval: 10m 

Enter online HERE.