The Bulletin, March 2020 1 The Bulletin RUAPEHU SKI CLUB CONTENTS Volume 85, No. 1 March 2020 2 President’s column 3 Ruapehu news 5 Ski season bookings 6 AGM notice 6 Committee nominations 7 Ski insurance 8 Ski trail approved 8 Skifield sale approved 8 Roger Manthel 9 Joe Gabriel 10 Instructor for 2020 12 Fatal eruption 13 Volcano safety 14 RAL reviews 2019 15 Mountain holidays 17 RSC calendar 19 Ski season results 20 Robinson wins again 21 Victory for Hotter 27 Magma or lava 28 Looking for skiers 30 World snow news Charlotte and Freddie Rea fly the flag at RSC Hut. Photo: Tim Sharp. 32 Club info page 2 The Bulletin, March 2020 PRESIDENT’S COLUMN fulfil so many of the duties she performed ourselves, we can certainly confirm the Welcome back from the festive season. value she added to our endeavours. Her I hope everyone had an enjoyable recess modesty prevented us from understanding from work with their loved ones. Like me, the true extent of the void she has left. I’m sure everyone is back under the usual I offer a debt of gratitude to the routines of work and family life. Committee members and those outside I was fortunate to spend a few weeks Committee who have stepped up to ensure in British Columbia enjoying some that the Club continues to operate on a great skiing. One of the great aspects “business as usual” basis as we move on. membership in our Ski Club is the Those people include Vice Presidents opportunity to travel overseas with others Fiona Willison and Marion Quinn, from RSC. Treasurer Heather Chao, Club Captain For many years I’ve gone to Davos to Catherine Gafa and Matt Lamb. visit our past resident ski instructors. I It is obvious that we must recruit another have always had a great time. The problem Administration Officer, and before the is that because our contacts are instructors, onslaught of subscription receipts and they are working and could not always accommodation bookings. To that end, ski with me. we are fortunate to have Fiona driving the I know of a number of RSC families that recruitment process. have recently been in Japan skiing together Publication of the position has had and have had a marvellous time. As an overwhelming response and the overseas travel becomes more available prospective candidates are under to us, I think this is where Club life can assessment already. The next steps will extend beyond our beloved Ruapehu. include appointment and induction into, Since the last Bulletin, we have lost a I’m sure you all agree, is a complex and number of highly respected and beloved unique role. members. Among those are Roger Manthel Another pressing but very satisfying task and Joe Gabriel. Both are special to me as for us is the fulfilment of our maintenance they were good friends of my father. and work party programme. Work parties Roger has been an enthusiastic and are a vital part of any ski club but dedicated member of RSC for many especially RSC, by virtue of our size. decades and was crucial to the development Without work parties, it would be of RAL as a commercial entity. He was a necessary to engage contractors for all director of RAL for many years and served maintenance operations. That would as chairman. require significant increases in our Joe is a past RSC president, Lodge membership fees. However, work parties Officer, Heritage Trust guardian and also promote the spirit and soul of the Glacier Hut curator. He has served on the Club. RSC Executive in these roles and others They are an immense source of for as long I can remember. I have always comradery, satisfaction and enjoyment. viewed Joe as a guiding steady hand and I invite you all to check out the dates on have always had immense respect for him. our web site and to sign up. Since Sheryl’s departure, and having to Richard Nelson, President The Bulletin, March 2020 3 Whakapapa skifield in 2019. We had a good snow year. Photo: Peter Otway. THROUGH THE LODGE RAL chief executive Jono Dean said four of the 14 towers are potentially in the path WINDOW of a lahar (volcanic mudslide). RSC ski season bookings open on May Massey University is doing new 1st, so be sure to get your bookings into modelling of the lahar path and advice from the Office by then. a structural engineer will help determine Booking details are printed on Page 5 of whether any strengthening work is needed, this Bulletin. Dean said. The ski season in Happy Valley is A daily cap on the number of people who scheduled to open on May 30th. can walk the Tongariro Alpine Crossing Other parts of Whakapapa will open in could be considered in the wake of the the following weeks, followed by Turoa on Whakaari/White Island disaster. June 27th. The December eruption has prompted a review of hazards at all geothermal The Bulletin has been told that the and volcanic areas on Department of reference in Kath Harrison’s obit to hot Conservation land. lava flowing down Happy Valley in full Since the Crossing was last closed by view of folk in the Boomerang Lodge was volcanic activity in 2012, patronage has not quite right. soared and more than 140,000 people Our informant says there hasn’t been any completed the walk last year. lava down there for 5000-10000 years, a DOC spokesman Steve Taylor said a little while before skiing on the mountain. daily cap is something DOC will consider Ruapehu Alpine Lifts may have to in future to ease congestion and reduce strengthen any towers on the Sky Waka environmental damage. gondola which are found to be in a lahar It would also have the benefit of reducing path. the numbers exposed to volcanic risk. 4 The Bulletin, March 2020 Ruapehu District mayor Don Cameron has THE been appointed as the new chair of the Walking RUAPEHU SKI CLUB Access Commission Ara Hīkoi Aotearoa. (inc) Founded 1913 The appointment is for a three-year term and he P.O.Box 8064, Symonds St., takes over from longstanding Commission chair Auckland, New Zealand 1150 John Forbes. Telephone: 0-9-377 3856 Don Cameron is an experienced farmer and Email: [email protected] mountain biker and has been mayor of Ruapehu Website: www.rsc.org.nz District since 2007. c/o McConnell Properties Ryan Carr in a time of 1h 43m 24s won the Level 2 annual Goat run at Turoa in a time of 1 hour 43 204 Quay St minutes and 24 seconds Kaya Corporaal (1:45:54) Auckland CBD 1010 was second and Richard Harris (1:47:34) was third. The women’s division saw a photo finish for first in what looked like a dead heat. Checks showed that Jennifer O’Callaghan was the winner in 2:09:35, a fraction ahead of Corrinne O’Donnell (2:09:39). For just the second time in 16 years, the course for the Goat trail run was changed to avoid President: Richard Nelson dangerous weather. Vice-Presidents: Carl Burling, Marion Quinn, Phill Thomass, Instead of running from Whakapapa to Turoa, Donald Webster, Fiona Willison via the Round the Mountain Track, the course was Secretary: Louise Blair only at Ohakune and Turoa. Treasurer: Heather Chao A Belgian tourist’s locator beacon led rescuers Immediate Past President: Adrian Adriaansen to him in a rocky valley in Tongariro National Captain: Catherine Gafa Park. Vice-Captain: Paula Cooper The 18-year-old set out at 6.30am to hike the Committee: Arran Birchenough, Jeff 43km Tongariro Northern Circuit. Davies, Damon Forsyth, Sam Hood, He activated his beacon in the early afternoon Richard Horton, Simon Hunt, Nils after he missed a turn and got lost in the rocky Johannessen, Nina Thomas, William Oturere Valley. Geddes Patron: Peter Brady The deadline for the June Bulletin will be Friday Patroness: Barbara Scelly May 15th. Auditors: Hart and Co. All items should be with the Editor by then. Admin Officer: To be advised Lodge Officer: Carl Burling THE BULLETIN Hut Officer: Simon Hunt Founded in 1936 by Jock and Fitzie Graham. Chalet Officer: Phill Thomass Editor: Alan Graham, 63 Messines Rd, Karori, Turoa Officer: Donald Webster Heritage Fund Guardians: Richard Wellington 6012. Nelson, Adrian Adriaansen, Robin Telephone: 04-476 4598. Dallas, Bernard Smith Email: [email protected] Fund Treasurer: Mike Wardle Advertising: RSC Administration Glacier Hut Custodian: Joe Gabriel PO Box 8064, Symonds St. The Bulletin, March 2020 5 RSC BUNK BOOKINGS any extra nights maybe reallocated to the Chalet. Winter Bookings 2020. Bookings for the 2020 ski season will Bookings with guests. open on May 1st. Any bookings before Our booking rules state that non- then will not be confirmed or processed members guests are not able to have until later in the month. As in past years their accommodation confirmed until all bookings should be confirmed by two weeks prior to staying. This has the last week in May. meant in some cases that members have Your bookings will be confirmed as not wanted to make bookings with such soon as possible after receiving your short lead times. request, as long as subscriptions for all Where possible these bookings can those on the booking have been paid be confirmed at the Chalet and then and there are sufficient funds in your once the two week period comes up and deposit account to cover the requested there is space at the upper mountain we accommodation.