TEMPLE BASIN ACCESS

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28057, 27 August 1956, Page 6

TEMPLE BASIN ACCESS

Extension Of Jeep Track Proposed PARKS AUTHORITY ASKED TO PROVIDE FUNDS The Arthur’s Pass National Park Board will ask the National Parks Authority to make provision in the next financial year for the funds required to extend the jeep track at Temple Basin to the ski club huts in the basin. A unanimous decision to this effect, on the motion of Mr T. T. Robins, was reached at a meeting of the board at Arthur’s Pass during the week-end. The existing track, which rises about 700 ft from the main highway, cost about £6OO to construct. The extension, which will take the track up about another 800 ft, will be over much more difficult terrain, and the cost of construction will probably be more than three times that of the existing section.

“I would say, judging by the spate of letters that have been written to the newspapers, that there must have been a great deal of misconception of the intentions and the attitude of the board in the minds of the public and even of some members of mountain clubs.” said the chairman of the. board (Mr T. W. Preston) last evening. “The facts are that representations were made to the Government, and to the board for the construction of a road suitable to take buses right up to the basin. The board investigated this proposal, and its members were unanimous that construction of such a road was not feasible. It might be possible to build such a road at a very great cost, but the board felt that using buses on it under winter conditions would be fraught with the greatest danger. The official attitudes of the mountain clubs were in complete agreement with this viewpoint. Extension of Track “The extension of the present jeep track is. however, quite a different matter, and has always been viewed with favour by all board members. It would be on steep grades suitable only for four-wheel drive vehicles, and then only when it was free of snow. It would enable mountain or ski clubs to take in supplies—fuel, food, and equipment—with a minimum of physical effort. More important, it would provide excellent walking access for the general public when free of snow or under only light snow. “The board would like to see the general public have the facilities to get up to a high level, from which there is a magnificent view of Mount Rolleston and a whole raqge of mountain scenery. The present track up The Bluffs is only for the young, and we want to make it possible for some of the older people to get up there, too.” said Mr Preston. The cost of the jeep track would be only a fraction of the cost of a bus road, he said.