LANDSLIP 4X4 RALLY
In the December 2017 issue of the mag, Editor Ross mentioned roads that have never happened. There’s long been pressure to put roads through the Heaphy Track (Takaka to the West Coast), from Haast to Milford (Cascade to Hollyford), or the Routeburn Track (Lake Wakatipu to Hollyford). All have similar pros and cons depending on your point of view. The tourist sector wants ways to get more tourists around more quickly and efficiently so they can roll more cash through the tills. Locals want the employment and better access to improve their lives. Other locals and the general eco/conservation/keep-NZgreen bloc wish to preserve the untouched landscapes these roads, and their construction, would disturb. I’m on the fence here – my petrolhead side likes to roam the country exploring, camping and loving the place to bits and my eco side values undisturbed wilderness and wildlife! Conflict of interest? There’s another relatively unknown proposed route that was explored some time ago – the Nancy/Tass Saddle on the West Coast. I’m sure there are many others around the country. Some friends and I went looking for it thirty-odd years ago. West Coast residents and farmers living between Reefton and Greymouth have quite a trek via Springs Junction to get to Canterbury via the ‘Lewis’. At the time the Arthurs Pass route was not fully sealed, often had slips and closures, and had a tortuous, unstable zigzag climb in the Otira Gorge that was unsuitable for trailers and heavy vehicles. They proposed a shortcut from Ahaura to Springs Junction. An existing road goes up the Ahaura Valley until it runs out of flat land. At the other end Palmers Rd runs south from Springs Junction. Both point to the Nancy-Tass saddle, each heading up a valley. The as-thekea-flies distance is about sixteen km between road ends. A bulldozer was despatched from the north end to head for the saddle. The story went that some progress was made through the tangled bush but once near the saddle things got a bit tough. Too tough. Apparently the saddle itself is very rocky and gorgey so the driver gave up on it. We found the track, what was left of it. It was neglected, unused and overgrown. Quite tough going for our 4WDs but we made some progress. There was much digging, winching, towing and chainsaw and axe work. We didn’t really get very far. We failed to ‘close the pass’, in cowboy speak. Camped in the bush overnight then headed back out next day, very wet and muddy, but satisfied we’d given it a good go. On the 1-50,000 maps the Tass side, where we were, looks easy going for a ‘dozer. It’s always harder than the map says! The Nancy side though has a crinkly gorge with many cross-creeks running down both of its steep sides. There may be a narrow bench on the north side suggesting it may be marginally easier than the south (true left) bank. So about four kms of expensive road-building and susceptible to slips? The remainder a bit easier. Sort of a mini Arthurs Pass/Otira road. I have not heard of any later attempts on the route but improvements to the passes lessened the need for it. It would have required many bridges and probably be a high maintenance route. And, in fact, it would have only knocked about ten km off the eighty km SH7 trip. As a ‘local’ road it would have long remained twisty shingle. Like the other mooted routes mentioned it would traverse picturesque west coast bush. Picturesque but probably slower than the main road. If anyone is able to cast a more accurate light on the NancyTass original exploration I’d love to hear about it. My info on it is from local hearsay and I don’t know the year. Late ‘60s I expect. There’s probably more to it than I’ve heard. Many Kiwi roads through the bush began as logging tracks – as with the Ahaura and Palmers Rd ends, but not the saddle part. Any other good stories out there?