Mt Lyford field on line

Press, 1 June 1989, Page 36

Mt Lyford field on line

Mount Lyford’s snow and ice reports (more the former than the latter) in the newspaper have been whetting the appetite of winter sports enthusiasts for some weeks now. And a pilot ski area will indeed open at Mount Lyford (22km north-east of Waiau) this season, though that is still a month away, with iceskating available as well on Lake Stella. The project manager of Mount Lyford Development, Ltd, Mr Doug Simpson, said that two investigatory years were planned for the new field, in the Lake Stella ski basin. Lake Stella is one of four or five potential ski basins in the area, among the others being Mount Terako where there was a heli ski-ing venture a few years ago. For Mount Lyford’s first ski season, and probably the next, the main ski lift will be somewhat unusual — a Kassbohrer 170 snow-groomer. The groomer will tow skiers, with a few more probably on top, about 800 metres to the top of the ski basin at an altitude of 1645 m (5400 ft the same as the top of Coronet Peak. Mr Simpson anticipates that the groomer will be able to take anything from 15 to 20 skiers per lift. The charge will probably be $2 to $3 each time. “We’re only looking at covering the cost,” he said. The slopes to which the groomer will give access are suitable for intermediate to advanced skiers and climb quite steeply towards the top.

“There are quite a few trails and a cross-country ski-ing area available too,” Mr Simpson said.

The main charge for those wanting to make use of the Mount Lyford facilities will be around $2O a car, covering road toll, ice-skating and the learners’ ski tow.

Construction of the 120 m-long learners’ rope tow has been such that it has no intermediate pulleys and nutcrackers will not be required. Mr Simpson said that the learners’ area comprised about one hectare.

Ski-ing will be necessarily low-key at Mount Lyford this winter with the car park only able to handle about 60 to 80 cars. There will be no day facilities, but food such as hot soup and pies will be dispensed from a small caravan. Ice skates, and possibly skis, will be for hire.

Rather than just turn up at the front door, skiers and ice-skaters will be required to deal with Seekers with which Mount Lyford will have a separate line (phone, Christchurch 648-938). The field will thus operate with bookings. Mr Simpson was keen to make sure that people did not have the wrong idea about Mount Lyford. “It’s not a fully-blown skifield,” he said. The ski area will basically be open only on week-ends and school holidays though Mr Simpson said they would “crank it up” for special groups. With the two years of investigations planned the lift facilities will probably be much the same next year, possibly with the addition of another rope tow.

The opening of the ski area is still a month away

because the car park has to be shingled and a little more work done on the mountain road. According to Mr Simpson, Mount Lyford has been getting a lot of good snowfalls but they have not hung around very long. Although not a high mountain it gets good dumpings of snow, the Mount Lyford Station owner said. “It lies into the eye of the southerly.” And last year Lake Stella (in a fairly sheltered spot at 4200 ft or

1280 m) had an ice-skating season of over three months. So far this year the required frosts have been lacking, though. It should get a publicity boost during 1989 with the New Zealand Ice Racing Federation planning to hold its national outdoor championship there. The ski area is 3.7 km from the alpine village (with log cabins) being developed at Mount Lyford. Mr Simpson said a mini bus would probably provide transport from Waiau.