NEW TRAMPERS’ HUT OVERLOOKS ADA PASS

Press, Volume XCII, Issue 27738, 16 August 1955, Page 12

NEW TRAMPERS’ HUT OVERLOOKS ADA PASS

A hut, which was prefabricated at Canterbury University College during the August vacation last year, now stands on a terrace at the edge of the bush overlooking the Ada Pass, about 10 miles from, the top of the Lewis Pass. The hut, which has been erected by

the Canterbury University College Tramping Club, completes a chain of stopping places for trampers moving in the country between the top of the Lewis Pass and Hanpier Springs. It also gives access to the Faerie Queen and Gloriana peaks in the Spenser mountains. Parts of the hut, which measures 14ft 2in by 9ft 6in and has bunk accommodation for six, were dropped close to the site by a Bristol Freighter of the Royal New Zealand Air Force a day or two before last Christmas. The same day the freighter dropped parts of a ski. lift on the grounds of the Craigieburn Valley Ski Club\ On four earlier occasions unfavourable weather had prevented a Freighter from carrying out this mission. On December 23 the aircraft made 16 runs over the Ada Pass to drop the material for. the hut in a swamp close to the building site. Operating on a nne about 200 yards long, the aircraft dropped its load within a range of only about two and a half yards on either side of the line, greatly simplifying the task of a party on the ground waiting to collect the parts. Though the Freighter came down to between 50 and 80 feet, some ninefoot lengths of timber stuck in the soft surface of the swamp to a depth of eight feet and were difficult to extract. The dropping was done so low that seven parachutes used in the operation barely had time to open before they and their loads struck the surface. Other material was dropped without parachutes. Some of the equipment was damaged in the drop, but club members were able to salvage sufficient for their requirements. The air drop relieved club members of long hours of arduous carrying, and only windows, spare timber, tools, and a stove had still to be packed in. A working party of 12 took about three "days to erect the new hut, which is of aluminium sheeting construction. The main task was sorting out timber, mending broken sections, and laying the foundations. At Queen’s Birthday week-end bunks were installed in the hut, and during the present university vacation the hut will be furnished with benches and,stools. The club has another hut at the head of the Avoca river. A partv will also visit this hut during the holidays to carry out renovations.