Mt Fell Hut – Relocated and Ready
Nelson Tramping Club President and FMC Executive member Pat Holland reports on the successful relocation of Mt Fell hut at Labour Weekend.
“Just a short report on the efforts at Labour Weekend to complete the relocation of Mt Fell Hut begun in June with the move by airforce chopper to adjacent to its new site. The following work team of 5 choppered into the new hut site on Saturday morning (see also pic).
Silvano Lorandi, Richard Walker (Waimea TC), Bob Janssen, Kate Krawczyk
Graeme Ferrier.
[rev_slider mtfell]
Led by Silvano, they beavered away for two solid days with some minor assistance later by another 7 from Nelson TC, including myself, who walked up from Timms Creek. The pile holes were dug and piles concreted in; the hut moved down slope from its temporary site the 4-5 metres onto the new foundations; all secured with various fasteners (including up the studs under the tin cladding); porch bearers/floor repaired with new piles; water tank moved onto temporary pad against back of hut. This and the final cleanup was all completed by the Monday morning and the whole party then walked back out to Timms Creek.
This all went very smoothly and efficiently thanks to Silvano’s excellent planning and leadership. And assisted by your team’s preliminary work including moving the toilet and water supply. The hut is basically very sound and in good order at its final location. It awaits your inspection and installation of the cabling tie-downs. The new location is fantastic with the views across the forested ridge to Mt Fishtail and out across Cook Strait. Great choice and we are sure this hut will soon be getting used more than in the past.
We are very excited to be involved in this project and have begun planning for the next phase of the renovation. The following jobs need further discussion with your team:
Installation of the new fireplace.
Building of permanent platform for the water tank (perhaps as part of a small deck and steps at the entrance).
Construction of a small woodshed (iron sheathed, perhaps after re-roofing the hut).
Installation of a larger ss bench.
Repainting inside and out.
Silvano will prepare for you a short report detailing key technical details of the work undertaken this past weekend. I attach a few snapshots. We look forward to progressing the next steps in the renovation.
Kind regards,
Patrick Holland
President
Nelson Tramping Club”
