Whakapapa's second decade

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 11, Issue 502, 7 September 1993, Page 8

Whakapapa's second decade

Continued from last week The second decade of RAL operation at Whakapapa saw the introduction of a new type of lift, the Pomagalski drag lift. Four 'pomas' were installed - in Te Heuheu Valley, on Knoll Ridge, the National Downhill and the Rock G arden. By the mid-1960's skiing was enjoying immense popularity. Participation in winter sports at Whakapapa alone had increased by an estimated 700% since the first chairlift's installation in 1954. Visitor numbers for the 1966 season reached a record 170,000 and skifield amenities were under enormous pressure to keep up with the demand. A 1000m rope tow was installed on the

National Downhill in 1960, creating a special family area which made 'The Downhill' a favourite place for many younger skiers. In 1965 the tow was replaced with a T-Bar and at the sarne time an access qhaitHftand poma lift were installed to the west of the area. In 1964 Happy Valley commenced operations and the No.3 chairlift was replaced by the Knoll Ridge poma. The Rock Garden poma began operating in 1969, while an eruption totally destroyed Whakapapa's Dome Shelter and a kiosk attached to the Staircase TBar. The Waterfall poma was installed in 1974 and RAL renewed its 21-year licence with the

Tongariro National Park Board In 1976 the Iwikau Public Shelter and first aid room was officially opened by the Minister of Lands, the Honourable

Venn Young and in the same year the Rock Garden double chairlift began operating. In the nine years between 1978 and 1987 Whakapapa has continued to add to its facilities, with the installation fo the Waterfall double chairlift (1978), the Waterfall Platter (1979), Te Heuheu Valley T-Bar (1981), Knoll Ridge TBar (1982), National Downhill double chairlift (1983), and finally in 1987, the installation of the quad chairlift. Huts at Iwikau In the early days the Ruapehu Ski Club had the only high level huts at Whakapapa and its membership rocketed, Teaching 1000 in 1949. Otaihape Hut was

built in 1948 and was the first of the post-war huts on Ruapehu. In the following year, Aorangi Ski Club, Auckland Tramping Club and Hutt Valley Tramping Club built their huts. Atleast six more clubs began building in 1950 and from then on a hut or two was built each year. By the mid-1950's there were around 15 new huts scattered about the old lava flows of the lower slopes of the Whakapap Skifield. It was about then that the Tongariro National Park Board began promoting the Iwikau 'village' concept in an effort to control the development. There were still some major planning difficulties to come to grips with, including water supply, rubbish disposal and sewage.

80 years of skiing Ruapehu