The Installation

K Col Track Upgrade

17 -28 January 2020



Working on the planking    - photo from John Hughes

On helicopter delivery day, the four-person track construction team, two FOMF volunteers and a PWS member were taken to K Col.  Apart personal equipment, food and tools, there was a small generator and a toilet.  Then 19 packs of timber were brought it and left at the locations along the track where needed.

Unfortunately, one spot due to get timber was overlooked, resulting mismatched loads at some of the following locations.   By a stroke of luck, the problem was overcome by shortening the work on some sections by eliminating components that only improved walker comfort without compromising the main objective of protecting the sensitive cushion plants. On the other side of the coin some environmentally damaged areas close to surplus timber packs could now be included.

Construction of the planking commenced at midday on that first day and continued for 12 days.  For the first 5 days two FOMF volunteers helped and another came for the day.  The track construction team were first rate both with the build quality and dedication to the task. They worked in all weathers, which at times curtailed the use of battery powered tools and worked long hours from 7:30 in the morning to 5:30 in the afternoon.  But it was when they came upon small sections of track not earmarked for action, that they shone, by suggesting that they would go and carry timber to the spot for planking to save the area from being damaged.  PWS also had a couple of very willing and strong staff who walked in and between them worked for three days on the project.

The work itself involves lot of sawing of 6m lengths of 4x2, using small chainsaws to make into posts which are then rammed into the earth to support the planking. Getting these posts in takes quite a bit of effort with a large weighted mallet and the ground can be rocky with shallow soil depth or at the other extreme deep and soft requiring 1.5-metre-long posts.  Unfortunately, some of the post timber was not good enough quality to use and as result about 4 planks had to be left for another occasion when it was possible to get more posts delivered.  These were delivered to site during the helicopter visit to bring out waste from construction and equipment.

The weather intervened making it not possible to collect the track crew on the planned collection date, and they had to walk out.  Conditions only became suitable a week later and even then cloud threatened to disrupt the flight schedule.

 6 February 2020

That final helicopter flight day had a bonus for Peter and Greg, who managed to be invited for a visit to Lake Rhona whilst two PWS staff were delivered there for an inspection of the area and the track. After leaving them there we were brought back past Mount Field West and through the valley where the K Col track is situated.  After leaving us there, the helicopter proceeded to lift out all the bags and equipment.