Tracks damaged

Ruapehu Bulletin, 8 September 1992, Page 5

Tracks damaged

The past month's fickle weather has damaged some DoC tracks and made others impassable.

Heavy rainfall has caused two big slips on the Matemateaonga track, which stretches 40 kms

through Stratford, Wanganui and Raetihi back country. The track was last checked in February so four DoC staff are now spending ten days clearing tracks, putting netting on bridges and board walks and trimming vegetation, said Pipiriki Field Base Manager Dennis McDonnell. A slip at the end of the Atene Skyline has closed the track. The slip has taken one end of the nature walk right out onto the road. The second slip at Atene was not as big and people could still get around it, he said. Taumarunui DoC staff will be working on the Mangapurua track next month, repairs are especially needed at the Waterfall Creek area. High snow falls at Whakapapa have made one track difficult to find let alone walk on. Conservation Officer John Allen said the Slicker Rapids track near the Village was unmarked and buried in snow. Tongariro Crossing track has similar snow conditions plus a danger of avalanche. He recommends track users carry ice axes, crampons, avalanche autoboxes(peeps), shovels, Turn to page 6

Tracks From page 5 probes and warm clothing and be very careful of the avalanche danger. Rob McCullum of DoC Ohakune said there was snow on all tracks especially the Round the Mountain track, buried in knee to thigh-deep snow and impassable unless you skied it.