NEW ALPINE HUT

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1929, Page 7

NEW ALPINE HUT

AT HEAD OF FRANZ JOSEF GLACIER. OPENED ON SUNDAY. Alpine climbing in the Franz Josef Glacier region on the West Coast will be undertaken with much greater comfort in the future as a result of the erection of a large new hut to take the place of the Aimer Bivousac near the head of the Franz Josef Glacier. Tlfis hut, which consists of two compartments, each containing six bunks, was officially opened on Sunday, and representatives of the Tourist Department and several keen alpinists from Christchurch took part in the ceremony. The hut has been erected alongside the bivouac which has done duty since 1915, and which has proved to be totally inadequate during the past few years. It is situated on a large rock a short distance above the junction of the Aimer and Franz Josef glaciers at a height of about 5500 feet above sea level, and is just below the snowfields at the head of the glaciers'. During last season, when alpine climbing became very popular .from -ue West Coast side, the Aimer Bivouac, which was only Bft by 10ft- in size, and was intended to afford shelter for not more than four persons at a time, was frequently used by as many as eight persons, with the result that conditions were far from comfortable. It is. understood that this bivouac is now to be shifted to Pioneer Ridge, near the main divide of the. Southern Alps, where a camp was established some years ago by Mr Alex Graham and Dr Teichelmann. When this is done the trip from Waiho to Weheka, traversing the Franz Josef and Fox glaciers, will doubtless become a popular one with alpinists. The guides attached to the Glacier Hotel, Waiho, who have carried out the job of erecting the Aimer Hut, have taken particular pride in their work and they describe the hut as the most comfortable in the. Southern Alps, although, of course, it is jiot the largest. The work of conveying the. materials to the site was exceedingly difficult, owing to the necessity for taking it up the face of the glacier, but it was carried out. gradually. A good deal of material was taken up during last climbing season. The new hut is on the main climbing route between the Glacier Hotel and The hermitage, via Graham’s Saddle, and it takes about seven hours to reach it from Waiho. Most alpinists crossing Graham’s Saddle in future will spend a night in the hut, which will also be in demand as a base for climbing tri/ps. , .