Ski Touring at the Head of the Tasman Glacier

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SKI TOURING AT THE HEAD OF THE TASMAN GLACIER Photo by Bob Chittenden SKI PATROL BOB CHITTENDEN For many years a very necessary part of activities on Training is given in first aid, snow-craft, sledge craft, Ruapehu has been the Ruapehu Ski Patrol. Several avalanche rescue, and members are encouraged to Club members have taken part and they have been learn the locality of all major landmarks and huts. very keen to advance their first aid knowledge. In the In good conditions it is often last two years advanced courses have been run by sledge down but this is often too possible to for ski a the St. John Ambulance Association at Wellington seriously In fact bumpy a Public Hospital and were directly concerned with injured patient. the bluffy nature of first aid for mountaineers and trampers. the terrain on Ruapehu can make skiing with a sledge quite risky and present Patrol policy does not encour- While on patrol duty one is called upon to deal age it. with a great variety of accidents, the most common of course being the fracture of the lower leg. These Patients are then accommodated in the First Aid fractures are splinted on the site and brought down Room at the Top o' the Bruce where they are in to the road end in banana boat sledges. For this the the capable hands of ambulance men who make patroller must be able to use crampons and be them comfortable for their trip to Taumarunui Hosfamiliar in the use of ice axe and rope. A sound pital. As Nick Jennings says, the First Aid Room at knowledge of the standard fixed and running belays the top of the road is, the place to gain first aid is also essential. The sledge is transported down to experience since all hospital cases receive attention the road end. In good conditions this is a comparahere. In addition, many patients suffering from tively easy operation but is a different story should sprains, cuts, bruises, cold or exhaustion are treated. the slopes become icy or a blizzard develop. Special The Patrol is a completely voluntary organisation training is given to Ski Patrol members and one and relies a great deal on donations from the general weekend is set aside each year for this purpose. public to assist it to operate efficiently.