Aircraft In The Southern Alps

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29401, 31 December 1960, Page 10

Aircraft In The Southern Alps

[Specially written for “The Press’’} * Using a ski-equipped aircraft to land high on the West Coast flanks of the Southern Alps, Messrs Oscar Coberger and Harry Ayres, the cljiief ranger of the Mount Cook National Park Board, made an ascent of Mount Sefton (10,370 ft last week. Two other climbing parties also took part in the ascent, which was the first to be made from a new» aircraft landing plateau at 7500 ft, about two miles west of the Welcome Pass. •>

This was another important milestone in the use of aircraft in high climbing in New Zealand.

Mount Sefton was first climbed as long ago as 1894, when the English mountaineer, E. A. Fitzgerald, and his guide, Matthias Zurbriggen, were successful in an attempt on the notorious northeast ridge. Fitzgerald had a lucky escape from death on this climb, for Zurbriggen managed to hold him on the rope when he fell. The mountain has been climbed many times from the west, since this is the easiest route, but it is a circuitous one and involves wearying travel through the West Coast bush. With the new ski landing plateau in use, the mountain will probably enjoy even greater popularity' among climbers, and other peaks difficult of access will also become more frequented. Some climbers regard the ski plane as an artificial climbing aid which should not be used for a true ascent of a mountain, but in these days when time is the precious factor, others gratefully make use of the convenience. Obviously, mountains become a great deal less difficult when there is no problem of access, and the early mountaineers of. New Zealand underwent hardships scarcely appreciated today. I In spite of the considerable

degree of danger involved in high altitude ski plane landings, the record of the pilots who wing their way among New Zealand’s highest peaks is an excellent-one. Landing a small aircraft on a restricted area of snow with the lurking dangers of crevasses is not easy, and a very specialised technique, perfected by Mr Harry Wigley, of Timaru, is required. Sometimes the skis freeze to the snow, at other times the snow is so soft that the aircraft are almost embedded to the fuselage, yet almost alwayfe the pilots manage to extricate the aircraft without damage. Most of the landings are done below 7000 ft with parties of tourists, and to the pilots it becomes second nature. The climbers who made the ascent of Mount Sefton last week have suggested that the new ski landing plateau be named after Mr Wigley. It would indeed be a fitting tribute to a man who has perhaps done more than any other to popularise the Southern Alps. At present Mr Wigley is finalising plans for the installation of the South Island’s first chairlift for skiers at Coronet Peak, Queenstown.

Today aircraft are able to land on the Tasman, Franz Josef, Fox, and Mueller Glacier?, as well as an increasing number of snowfields at higher levels. This service has shown itself of great assistance to climbers, but it is more important as a tourist bait and a facility enabling the average New Zealander to get among the highest peaks in the Southern Alps which he would never have the energy nor inclination to do on foot. The mountain rescue factor is also most important, and an aircraft could mean the difference between life and death in a mountain disaster. Boy Killed By Tractor [New Zealand Press Association) WANGANUI, December 30. A 14-year-old boy was killed at Ohakune this morning, when a tractor rolled on him and he was pinned by the steering wheel. He was: Edward Dunn, a son of Mr and Mrs J. Dunn, Burns street, Ohakune. The boy had collected the tractor for use in his father’s market garden. He was driving it along beside Pakahi road and was dead when found. •