SAFETY OF CLIMBERS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 59, 7 September 1931, Page 8

SAFETY OF CLIMBERS

(To the Editor.)

Sir.T-^Apropoß the recent sad happenings on Ruapehu, and as one who has done a lot of surveying round and on the volcanoes, I venture to make the following suggestions for the safety of climbers:— (1) An aerial survey of the Park should be made as soon as possible for the construction of a map showing the true positions of all the main topographical features such as streams, spurs, and forest. The present maps, being mainly compiled from old data, are Very faulty. Aerial surveys are carried* out in Canada at the cost of a few shillings per square mile. (2) When descending.a mountain in bad visibility it is extremely difficult to keep on the right spur. It would be a great measure of safety if silver-pine posts or. stone cairns were erected to mark the track between the bottom of the Whakapapa glacier and the bush margin. (3) Sooner or later, people will lose their way on mountains in bad weather, even with these safeguards. A track should i therefore be cut round the base of the mountain about half a mile below the upper margin of the bush f rom flje Chateau to the Mahuia stream, or, even better, to the Makatote River. Descending, parties,, should they follow down a wrong spur, could ;not help but pick up this track, and then could follow it back to the Chateau. A rough walking track only is required, and experienced bushraen could make this at a very small cost. Such a track would incidentally be of. great scenic value and interest. '

(4) Climbing parties should always have a compass in case of foggy weather. Had anyone of the party had a compass on this recent disastrous trip, it would have shown him that the north-westerly or westerly directions which were taken were incorrect; the course- should have been roughly true.north. Parties should also have a supply of wax matches in some watertight container, and on Ruapehu a light slash-hook is very useful in case one c 1 es have the bad luck to get bushed. (5) It has been suggested that a siren be installed at the Chateau and: blown if a party were out after' dark or in heavy fog; .also that rockets might be used. I do not think rockets would be seen in fog or heard far enough away. My bwu opinion is that a ship's small signalling gun would be the best for use as a direc-tion-indicator, and among the Chateau staC:' there would surely be someone capable of firing it. t , For search parties no better men can be found than those employed in the Forestry Department's surveys or bush hands in the timber mills. These" men ican stand any hardship, «an get through the bush speedily, have a sense of direction; and can make a fire in the wettest weather. ,"""••' '.''.',

(7)-' The climatic condition on the western ode of Ruapebu is very variable and difficult for strangers to forecast; especially, in the early mornings, when most trampe'rs set out. I think a forecast of the weather by some experienced member of the Chateau staff should-be pinned up in some conspicuous place in the Chateau late every evening. . Many people,expect the Park Board to undertake extensive developments. It should be remembered that the board has only a. very small revenue and probably for many years—unless Parliament can be persuaded to give it an annual subvention— there will,not be sufficient funds for any such development. '" I consider that the danger to tramper* could be minimised by the adoption of the foregoing suggestions, and consequently would emphatically disagree with any proposal that it should be made compulsory for mountain trappers to be accompanied fby a certified-guide. Let those who wish a guide have him by all means, but let those who wish to explore by themselves do so on their own responsibility. These mountains were given as a "heritage to a tree people. It is not in keeping with the Bpirit. of the mountains and the spirit of adventure—which I hope will never be suppressed in the hearts of young peoplethat the services of a guide should be forced on anyone.—l am, etc., ;

E. PHILLIPS TURNER, Late member of the Tongariro . National Pank Board.