The scheduled lodge committee meeting was held at the end of April. We discussed the usual subjects and in particular, the subject that we are all dealing with in our own way. At this stage we are all in agreement that we will not be able to open the lodge until we reach alert level 1 at the earliest. Alert level 1 means that there will be no requirement for physical distancing.
The circumstances for our lodge to open fully will depend on RAL (the ski field operator) being able to open the lifts. That would mean that they would need to have the staff to manage the lifts, ski patrol, cafeterias etc. Traditionally, a large amount of the staff has come from overseas.
Opening the mountain facilities will depend on guidance from the government and the Department of Conservation (DOC).
We can only assume that DOC will allow us access to the ski field road at Covid-19 level 1 as they are unlikely to open land to the public prior to that level where people can freely use DOC huts and facilities.
There have been news media reports of some South Island ski fields that will open during level 2. These fields are on private land and may be able to maintain physical distancing, plus they are being positive in their thinking and who could blame them for that?
Our lodge is closed to use as is our booking system. The group bookings already in place will stand as arranged. The lodge committee will be monitoring the situation, on a weekly basis.
Andy will be updating the situation on the club Facebook page and on the club website forum.
Take care,
Brian
Lodge Convenor
RAL have announced that they are permitted to operate under Level 2 (with restrictions/conditions), and have projected the following facilities to be operating. Assuming all goes to plan ….
https://help.mtruapehu.com/hc/en-us/articles/360001424076-Which-lifts-will-operate-this-winter-