Ruapehu Progress Reports

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"RUAPEHU PROGRESS REPORTS" After the O.K. had been given by the carrying the materials up from Bruce majority of the members at the Special Road. Meeting held last November on the pro- Fortunately the carriers who posal to extend Ruapehu Hut this the sand, gravel and cement delivered summer, the organisation to put the marunui, and the ones who from Tauplan into operation went into action. timber from Ohakune brought the realised how The clerk of Works and the sub-com- much it would help us to have the mitte for the extension then accepted materials dumped on the site as they quotes for the supply and delivery of really had to thrash their heavily laden building materials, and the preliminary trucks up. the Salt Ridge Road. The working parties commenced digging pile road was in a terrible condition after the holes and excavating for the new under- heavy rain and resulted in our Wellingground water tank. The usual large ton carrier, Ron Tickner, breaking an rocks were encountered during this stage axle and the Ohakune carrier burning but with plent of crowbar and sledge- out his clutch. hammer wielding they were all event- The next stage commenced the ually removed. before Christmas Day when we loaded day With the piles and the floor plates in Owen's truck with all the materials we position we were then ready for the were taking from town and an expected three carpenters and their voluntary two hour's job ended up by taking a Jabourers to commence work during the whole day. Christmas and New Year periods. The large window frames for the com- We were lucky in having the Salt mon room were too big to go inside the Ridge road so close to the front of the truck so they had to be tied on the hut as we were able to get all the build- roof, leaving us only about 6 inches ing materials delivered. on to the site, clearance under the low bridge on the thus saving the back-breaking work of way to the Mountain.

We left town at midnight on Christ- of the mountain!!! Four other members mas Day to dodge the holiday traffic arrived for the New Year week-end and and get a clear run through. Six persons the week-end after saw another three on travelled in the truck, and a private car the job to help things along. provided transport for another three. The weather for the next two weeks All the building materials plus food was heart-breaking with only two fine and passengers added up to far more days during the whole period. This than we had thought and consequently naturally proved a major setback to the the old truck made heavy going of the carpenters and a big disappointment to trip, with the radiator boiling several everyone. times on the way to the mountain. Nevertheless, the common room ex- We arrived soon after 9 a.m. and then tension was closed in, made weathercommenced-te transfer the load on to a proof, with the flooring and framing at six-wheel drive mountain goat for the the other end finished. Under the contrip to the hut site. ditions experienced this was good going. By dusk we finally had everything on The first weekend working party of the site and Owen left for home, no the New Year was run during Annidoubt ready to sleep the clock round versary weekend. With a full complewhen he arrived. We all retired early ment of workers we were able to paint in preparation for the start of building the new exterior of the hut and start operations the next day. closing the front end in. Private work- The new water tank was our first job ing partys were run on the weekends and the boxing was built and the con- of January 26-28, and February 9-11. crete poured during the first few days. With the work done on these and the This job was made far easier through next official club working party it is the use of electricity from C.T.C. hut hoped to have the front end closed in. and the use of Owen's concrete mixer. The next step is the internal electrical On Tuesday evening two more club wiring. We have been fortunate to members arrived after a trip over the have had an offer from a friend of Roy Mountain from Ohakune and offered to Turner's, who is a registered electrician, stay and lend a hand for a few days, to supervise the work for us free. This naturally they were welcomed with open will be a big saving. arms. After this has been done we can then On Friday morning five of us left commence to line the inside of the hut, the mountain to return home, leaving which will mean another stage comthe other six to the peace and solitude pleted. General view of extensions showing the as yet uncompleted front portion containing Ski Store, Drying Room, Washrooms, and Bunkrooms. On the left of photo is shown the externally completed Common Room extension which has yet to be finished internally.