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Chockstone Forum - General Discussion

General Climbing Discussion

Author
Mt Aspiring Helicopter access

jackw
27-Jun-2009
11:21:17 AM
I received this email from Aspiring guides Wanaka yesterday, have a read and submit a protest if you are so inclined:

Are you keen to keep helicopter access to the current landing site near Mt Aspiring? If so, we urgently request your assistance by making a personal submission to the Department of Conservation. The Mt Aspiring National Park plan is under review and submissions will close on Tuesday June 30…that’s only 5 days away. There's a risk the Department of Conservation will agree to a proposal in the draft plan that seeks to ban helicopter landings at Bevan Col during the Christmas two-week break AND over Easter holidays.



This proposal flies in the face of the majority of responses by climbers to a survey held in the Park two summers ago by the Department of Conservation. Most climbers pointed out that the issue of helicopter noise from aircraft landings at Bevan Col was minimal compared to the benefits gained from air access to a single landing site. Regardless, there appears to be a vocal group who do not want you, a member of the public, to retain this privilege. We believe that it is essential to provide balance on this debate.



We know that for most climbers there is no problem with the status quo. If this is your opinion, then protect your right to fly during your prime holiday period by doing the following...



1. Copy this text: "I, namexxxxxxxxxx, of addressxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx, as an outdoor enthusiast, hereby wish to maintain the status quo of helicopter access for climbers to the landing site near Mt Aspiring (Bevan Col).



2. Send this email to: bhunt@doc.govt.nz

Attention: Bronwyn Hunt

Subject: Submission : Mt Aspiring National Park Plan


With thanks,

Jean, Marty, Whit, and the team at Aspiring Guides



Mt Aspiring National Park
w: www.aspiringguides.com
e: action@aspiringguides.com
p: +64 3 443 9422
f: +64 3 443 9540
l: Lake Wanaka, New Zealand


IdratherbeclimbingM9
27-Jun-2009
12:01:35 PM
Thanks for posting that jackw.

In some ways it has many*1 parallels with the Balls Pyramid thread.
As climbers we tend to be individuals so creeping bureaucracy more easily erodes our divided stance.
It irritates me considerably that some ill informed 'authority'* can make decisions behind closed doors that affect a greater number of people than their self serving thinking realises; and then it is fait accompli (!!), unless we spend time and effort to counteract the silliness within their proposals.

(*Substitute bean-counter of choice; as often these things come down to one individual and their particular flavour within larger organisations/authorities).

I hope those affected become aware and can get their submissions in before the deadline.

The petty incremental creep has to be stopped!

I shall be sending off an email to the nominated person.*2

(* 1 and *2 Post edits: as per reference in my lower post on this thread)
Mike Bee
27-Jun-2009
6:42:12 PM
Email sent.

Cheers for the heads up jackw.

vwills
29-Jun-2009
8:39:00 AM
It in no way parrallels the Balls pyramid issue. There is no restriction on climbing Aspiring or surrounding peaks. There is no restriction on walking in.

THe major impact on the restriction of heli access is for guided groups whose clients lack the fitness to get to the Bonar glacier. I have some sympathy with the guiding companies but on fine days there can be 4 choppers and 16 people arriving and Colin Todd Hut suddenly becomes very overcrowded. There has been heated debate in NZ amongst climbers whether heli access to Bevan Col should be limited or ceased.

This has nothing in common with Access to Balls Pyramid.

nmonteith
29-Jun-2009
10:00:19 AM
My vote - no helicopters please! French Ridge is the crux of climbing that mountain! If you haven't been up that you haven't done the climb... :-)

Robb
29-Jun-2009
10:15:08 AM
I agree with neil. dont really see why you need helicopter access to get into aspiring. french ridge isnt too bad. there is no moraine or scree to deal with.
We did have thigh deep snow from the top of french ridge to the hut when we went there in winter. that was fun.
walk in walk out
its a beautiful valley.

nmonteith
29-Jun-2009
11:01:16 AM
On 29/06/2009 beefy wrote:
>its a beautiful valley.

With some not so friendly cows...

IdratherbeclimbingM9
29-Jun-2009
11:42:19 AM
On 29/06/2009 vwills wrote:
>It in no way parrallels the Balls pyramid issue. There is no restriction
>on climbing Aspiring or surrounding peaks. There is no restriction on walking
>in.
>
>THe major impact on the restriction of heli access is for guided groups
>whose clients lack the fitness to get to the Bonar glacier. I have some
>sympathy with the guiding companies but on fine days there can be 4 choppers
>and 16 people arriving and Colin Todd Hut suddenly becomes very overcrowded.
>There has been heated debate in NZ amongst climbers whether heli access
>to Bevan Col should be limited or ceased.
>
>This has nothing in common with Access to Balls Pyramid.


Fair enough and good points vwills.
I was getting out of my tree due to a dislike of bureaucracy setting agendas to limit presently existing freedoms; ... no matter where this takes place!
I freely admit to not being a mountaineer and not knowing the specifics of the issues involved here. After reading subsequent posts, I have changed my mind and will not be sending an email as I indicated earlier, and that I have not (fortuitously?) got around to doing yet, regarding this issue.

If I was to ever climb a mountain in NZ the ethic I would adopt would be to walk in to the base of the climbing involved. It sounds like the French Ridge is very much a part of the climbing experience for that mountain, so to fly over it would be to miss some of the adventure involved.

I still think the bureaucratic angle has parallels.☺

I will edit my original post to reflect my new sentiment.

nmonteith
29-Jun-2009
12:06:31 PM
NZ is plagued by intrusive motorized things in the wilderness. If its not the helicopters and planes swooping you on the mountains its the bloody jet boats screaming up and down the wilderness rivers.

There are 9 messages in this topic.

 

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