Pioneer Hut on the Fox Glacier -3 PHOTOS-

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DescriptionFacebook seems to be a quick way of getting information from people with a love of the mountains. The other day Hugh Canard posted the photo (centre below) of Pioneer Hut on the Fox Glacier recording his role in building what I call the 3rd Pioneer Hut in the years 1963-66. Withiin 24 hours Grahame Champness, Chris Eden, Ian Blackmore Cheryl Riley responded and the names of Alf Ure, Don Cowie, Alex Miller, Gordon Nicholls, Mike Riley and Bruce Jenkinson came up.There is an excellent article written by Trevor Chinn in the 1966 NZ Alpine Journal, p 247. Today I visited former Franz Josef mountain guide Peter McCormack and he remembers flying in with Elizabeth his wife, to view the hut shortly before it was finally completed. Peter mentioned that Ruth Adams donated funding towards the hut.

Pic 1
Pioneer Hut with Mt. Alack left, and Douglas to the right. Taken by Graeme Hasler in about 1966? I remember getting a copy from Graeme in about 1967 and it has hung on my wall ever since.

Pic 2
Pioneer Hut - the one on the end of the ridge of Mt Alack, that replaced the earlier one..... which has since been replaced...... Mt Tasman as backdrop. Must be 1965 or 1964? A plane crashed on Franz Josef glacier and then it snowed and all we found was an oil slick. We lived in a snow cave while this went up. You had to drill nail holes because the wood froze. Caption by Hugh Canard who supplied the photo.
Grahame Champness replied: Mike and Gordon were the builders in the first stage, foundations and floor. Don made a winch to get materials up from landing strip. Was easier to carry up. Hot sunny days lots of sunscreen mixed with sweat. Bruce Jenkinson's mountain Guides course used the floor to sleep on when they went through the Franz and Fox on way to Plateau hut.

Pic 3
The new Pioneer Hut.
Date of Photo2018Map^[1]ContributorBob McKerrow

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Location (city or town)Fox GlacierLandmark (Place)Pioneer Hut

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Category Tagglacier

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LinkFacebookDate Created19th January 2018

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