{"id":2330,"date":"2022-03-09T03:24:16","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T03:24:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/?page_id=2330"},"modified":"2022-08-16T05:05:03","modified_gmt":"2022-08-16T05:05:03","slug":"our-story","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/our-story\/","title":{"rendered":"Our Story"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"2330\" class=\"elementor elementor-2330\" data-elementor-post-type=\"page\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0d1a53 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-min-height elementor-section-items-stretch elementor-reverse-mobile elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0d1a53\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6666cf4\" data-id=\"6666cf4\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-ccee478 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"ccee478\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8acb4e0\" data-id=\"8acb4e0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-de09bb3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"de09bb3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-column 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.elementor-widget-empty-icon,.e-con>.elementor-widget-spacer.elementor-widget-empty .elementor-widget-empty-icon{position:absolute;top:0;bottom:0;left:0;right:0;margin:auto;padding:0;width:22px;height:22px}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-7fa62ca elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"7fa62ca\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-25bc82b\" data-id=\"25bc82b\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d6b6531 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d6b6531\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-stacked .elementor-drop-cap{background-color:#69727d;color:#fff}.elementor-widget-text-editor.elementor-drop-cap-view-framed .elementor-drop-cap{color:#69727d;border:3px solid;background-color:transparent}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap{margin-top:8px}.elementor-widget-text-editor:not(.elementor-drop-cap-view-default) .elementor-drop-cap-letter{width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap{float:left;text-align:center;line-height:1;font-size:50px}.elementor-widget-text-editor .elementor-drop-cap-letter{display:inline-block}<\/style>\t\t\t\t<p>Forty years ago a group of keen skiers came together and turned their dream of a\u00a0ski field\u00a0up the Rainbow peaks into a reality.\u00a0 \u00a0Ever since then snow lovers have graced, snow boarded, zoomed, tobogganed and tumbled down the slopes.<\/p><p>The development of Rainbow and its survival is testament to the hard work and cooperation of the Marlborough, Tasman and Nelson communities.\u00a0 Dedicated leadership, the efforts and contributions of many individuals, groups and sponsors mean that this winter people will enjoy snow sports again in this region.\u00a0<\/p><p>Thank you everyone who has so willingly shared their memories and told their stories so far.<\/p><p>If you know a missing part of the story, \u00a0please send it to us at <a href=\"mailto:history@skirainbow.co.nz\" rel=\"noopener\">history@skirainbow.co.nz<\/a>,\u00a0so we can share with it with everyone.\u00a0<\/p><p>Over the next few months look here for installments that add to this story.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0a0383b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0a0383b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9b40fad\" data-id=\"9b40fad\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b38499 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"5b38499\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-dcb86b2 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"dcb86b2\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-9de0bba\" data-id=\"9de0bba\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9103aa2 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"9103aa2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;5&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper,.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-container{position:static}.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-container .swiper-slide figure,.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper .swiper-slide figure{line-height:inherit}.elementor-widget-image-carousel .swiper-slide{text-align:center}.elementor-image-carousel-wrapper:not(.swiper-container-initialized):not(.swiper-initialized) .swiper-slide{max-width:calc(100% \/ var(--e-image-carousel-slides-to-show, 3))}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Logo3-aprox1982.jpg\" alt=\"Circa 1982\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Circa 1982<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Logo6-2021-768x374.jpg\" alt=\"Circa 1996\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Circa 1996<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/logo5-aprox-1996.jpg\" alt=\"Current\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Current<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/round-logo1.png\" alt=\"Current\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Current<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"5 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/40th-.jpg\" alt=\"40th Anniversary\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">40th Anniversary <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-left\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M646 125C629 125 613 133 604 142L308 442C296 454 292 471 292 487 292 504 296 521 308 533L604 854C617 867 629 875 646 875 663 875 679 871 692 858 704 846 713 829 713 812 713 796 708 779 692 767L438 487 692 225C700 217 708 204 708 187 708 171 704 154 692 142 675 129 663 125 646 125Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-eicon-chevron-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 1000 1000\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M696 533C708 521 713 504 713 487 713 471 708 454 696 446L400 146C388 133 375 125 354 125 338 125 325 129 313 142 300 154 292 171 292 187 292 204 296 221 308 233L563 492 304 771C292 783 288 800 288 817 288 833 296 850 308 863 321 871 338 875 354 875 371 875 388 867 400 854L696 533Z\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-41ae5a6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"41ae5a6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-00d2ec3\" data-id=\"00d2ec3\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-92e1b5a elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"92e1b5a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-0f8043c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"0f8043c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7abf351\" data-id=\"7abf351\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9e91e4e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9e91e4e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>What\u2019s in a Name?\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2><p>Originally Rainbow was just an expanse of snow until the committee of the day thought it could be useful for people to know where they were on the mountain.\u00a0 \u00a0Exploring ski run names also uncovered other gems.\u00a0<\/p><p>Enjoy this\u00a0first selection of the Rainbow story\u00a0and if you know a part of the story that we haven&#8217;t found yet love to hear from you \u00a0<a href=\"mailto:history@rainbow.co.nz\" rel=\"noopener\">history@skirainbow.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dc55f83 elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"dc55f83\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\n.elementor-toggle{text-align:start}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title{font-weight:700;line-height:1;margin:0;padding:15px;border-bottom:1px solid #d5d8dc;cursor:pointer;outline:none}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon{display:inline-block;width:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title .elementor-toggle-icon svg{margin-inline-start:-5px;width:1em;height:1em}.elementor-toggle .elementor-tab-title 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10px}}.e-con-inner>.elementor-widget-toggle,.e-con>.elementor-widget-toggle{width:var(--container-widget-width);--flex-grow:var(--container-widget-flex-grow)}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2311\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2311\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M288.662 352H31.338c-17.818 0-26.741-21.543-14.142-34.142l128.662-128.662c7.81-7.81 20.474-7.81 28.284 0l128.662 128.662c12.6 12.599 3.676 34.142-14.142 34.142z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Click for story<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2311\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2311\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The origins of the name <\/span><b>\u2018Rainbow\u2019<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are a little unclear \u2013 either an urban myth or more likely the translation of an old Maori name.<\/span><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urban Myth<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The origins of the name Rainbow can be traced back to the 1850s, from the book \u2018Foot Prints\u2019 by J N W Newport. This is referred to in \u2018Marlborough Place Names\u2019 where Newport described the naming of the valley with the following story:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis valley was named after a shepherd called Rainbow who first stocked a run here with about 8000 wethers. Mr ER Goulter states that when Rainbow returned after an absence of about a year, he found all his sheep had disappeared, and the missing sheep were never found.\u201d<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/about\/rainbow-ski-area\/rainbow-story\/whats-in-name#_ftn1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[1]<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Maori Origins<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The colonial exploration of the Upper Wairau in April 1855 saw Travers, Locke, Maling and Oldham accompanied by Maori guides heading into the region, and in their descriptions of the journey they wrote:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c\u2026 Te Kopi o Uenuku (the Rainbow River) had its source in the mountains above Lake Rotoroa\u201d.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/about\/rainbow-ski-area\/rainbow-story\/whats-in-name#_ftn1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[2]<\/span><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nelson Examiner<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> published a number of original articles written by Travers, the first of these was dated 5 May 1855. In his articles, Travers described the explorers slog through foul weather into the area, before being forced to turn back from somewhere near Tarndale. A few years later, on 14 March 1860, Travers reported:<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cFrom the size of the river at the point where we first struck it, and from the appearance of the valley towards the north, I should suppose the river-course to this point to be about 10 miles, through a glen bounded on either side by rugged mountains, the Clarence, the Wairau, and the Te Kopi-o-Wenuku\u00a0 or Rainbow River, rising amongst those which lie on its eastern side\u201d.<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/about\/rainbow-ski-area\/rainbow-story\/whats-in-name#_ftn2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[3]<\/span><\/a><\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mt Robert<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In early records, Sir Julius von Hasst is credited with being the first to climb Mt Robert on 17 January 1860.\u00a0 Hasst was married to Antonia Johanna Caroline Schmitt, and Mt Robert is reputedly named after their son Matthais Robert who was 12 years old at the time of the first climb.<\/span><\/p><p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-3275 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-8.33.51-AM-300x209.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-8.33.51-AM-300x209.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-8.33.51-AM.jpg 570w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six Mile Creek<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the fords on the Rainbow Valley road crosses Six Mile Creek. The exact origins of the name of the creek are a mystery \u2013 exactly six miles from where? It has been thought that six miles might refer to the distance from the creek to the original homestead. In any case, the ski field nestles comfortably in Six Mile basin which gives rise to the creek.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A photo of the first old original rope tow up at the Rainbow Ski Field in Six Mile Creek. The tow was powered and driven by an old diesel Fordson tractor, which had its back wheels taken off and replaced by large role pulleys. To allow the pulleys to run freely and drive the rope tow the tractor was jacked up onto an iron frame. The tractor was housed in an engine shed which was purposely built for it.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notice the large diesel tank situated behind the engine shed which was very close to the creek in the foreground. Because this creek drained the wetlands area on the right of the photo, this tank was shifted to another safer site. In later years, large concrete culvert pipes were put in this creek then filled and levelled out over the top of them.<\/span><\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-medium wp-image-3279\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-8.34.52-AM-300x228.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-8.34.52-AM-300x228.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Screen-Shot-2022-03-29-at-8.34.52-AM.jpg 590w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo taken by Malcolm Aitken about 1982.<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/about\/rainbow-ski-area\/rainbow-story\/whats-in-name#_ftnref1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[1]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u2018Marlborough Place Names\u2019, \u2018Foot Prints\u2019 by J N W Newport.<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/about\/rainbow-ski-area\/rainbow-story\/whats-in-name#_ftnref1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[2]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Te Tau Ihu O Te Waka, a history of Maori in Nelson and Marlborough, Volume 11, 2007, p.292, chapter by Hilary &amp; John Mitchell.<\/span><\/p><p><a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/about\/rainbow-ski-area\/rainbow-story\/whats-in-name#_ftnref2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">[3]<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cPapers Past\u201d original articles written by Travers in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nelson Examiner<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-173a0e6 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"173a0e6\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-88122f6\" data-id=\"88122f6\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-baef164 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"baef164\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bfed8d4 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bfed8d4\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7a428e8\" data-id=\"7a428e8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-15eefb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"15eefb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>What\u2019s in a Name &#8211; Ski Trails<\/strong><\/h2><p>Find out how the trails got their names and how they were developed.<\/p><p>Enjoy the\u00a0second selection of the Rainbow story\u00a0and if you know a part of the story that we haven&#8217;t found yet love to hear from you \u00a0<a href=\"mailto:history@rainbow.co.nz\">history@skirainbow.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-059e75e elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"059e75e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-5891\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-5891\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M288.662 352H31.338c-17.818 0-26.741-21.543-14.142-34.142l128.662-128.662c7.81-7.81 20.474-7.81 28.284 0l128.662 128.662c12.6 12.599 3.676 34.142-14.142 34.142z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Click for story<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-5891\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-5891\"><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3294 size-large aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.3-Trail-map-new-logo-may21-1-1024x521.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"382\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.3-Trail-map-new-logo-may21-1-1024x521.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.3-Trail-map-new-logo-may21-1-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.3-Trail-map-new-logo-may21-1-768x391.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.3-Trail-map-new-logo-may21-1.jpg 1398w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>Allan&#8217;s Way<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first trail map was done by John Lundon around 1985. Details on the names are below.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alans Way was named after Alan Pritchard. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mike Morrison was the Ski Area Manager at the time we put the chairlift in and he become friendly with Alan Pritchard who used to ski a lot mid-week. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Alan made a good donation to Rainbow to assist the mountain and to recognise this we named a run \u201c Alan\u2019s Way \u201c\u00a0 circa 1992<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3295 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.4-Sign-Board-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"710\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.4-Sign-Board-1.jpg 710w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.4-Sign-Board-1-300x169.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 710px) 100vw, 710px\" \/><\/span><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harry&#8217;s Way<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harry\u2019s Way is named after another early committee member David Dew. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The story goes that a local newspaper misreported David\u2019s name in a rugby game report and the nick-name Harry stuck for a while.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David, a lawyer in Blenheim, is credited with doing the hard yards to achieve a zone change which enabled the ski field to develop. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">John Lundon who was also very involved in Rainbow put Harry&#8217;s Way on the first trail map.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3296 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/David_Dewe-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"315\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/David_Dewe-1.jpg 315w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/David_Dewe-1-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/><\/span><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Barry\u2019s Trail (West Bowl)<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Barry Rance was involved with the new Rainbow from its origins in 2003.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He wanted to ensure a local ski field continued to exist, especially for children and youth in the future. His carpentry and \u2018fixit skills\u2019 were legendary, and he earned a reputation for always carrying an extensive tool kit on ski days to fix whatever needed fixing especially around the buildings.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The committee named Barry\u2019s Trail in recognition of his dedication as a volunteer at Rainbow.\u00a0 Barry passed away in June 2012.<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-3297\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Barry-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"315\" height=\"408\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Barry-1.jpg 315w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Barry-1-232x300.jpg 232w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 315px) 100vw, 315px\" \/><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Shirt Front<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The front slope on the field resembles a white shirt front, resulting in the name \u2018The Shirt Front\u2019. Over the years the contour has been reworked but still provides a challenge for some and a fun quick descent for others.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shirtfront-Earthworks as told by David Dew. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cOne of the bugbears at Rainbow was the area known as the shirtfront which is just above the main lift terminal. It was difficult for beginner\/intermediate skiers and hard to maintain snow cover on.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We applied to DOC for permission to re-contour it by effectively taking about 3 metres out of the top of it and filing the bottom. Helen Clark was the Minister for Conservation at the time. She flew in by Airforce Helicopter to inspect the proposal and approved both the work and the Code we proposed for such work. This became the code adopted for all Ski fields in NZ.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The work was done by a large bulldozer and made a fantastic difference and of course is still how the slope is configured. We were also allowed to do rock grooming on the main runs. This helps opening on limited snow. At the time this work was being done Dirk Robinson showed us how a 20-tonne digger could ski.\u201c<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3298 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Shirt_Front_1-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"250\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Shirt_Front_1-1.jpg 400w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Shirt_Front_1-1-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/>Looking up the shirt front at the Rainbow Ski Field as a D8 dozer goes over the crest of the escarpment during reshaping and modification of the slope.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Photo taken March\/April 1988)<\/span><\/p><p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3299 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Shirt_Front_2-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"399\" height=\"275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Shirt_Front_2-1.jpg 399w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/Shirt_Front_2-1-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 399px) 100vw, 399px\" \/>This photo gives an idea of the size of the shirt front slope and the area that was reshaped and manicured. This vantage point shows the large D8 dozer working on the slope and looking like a dinky toy. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">(Photo taken March April 1988 by Karen and Mike Ryan)<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Easy Way Home<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Originally called the Upper Access Road, \u2018The Easy Way Home\u2019 provided access for equipment to the upper field during early development days.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is still used as a way to access equipment for repairs and maintenance, for ski patrol and a gentler route down than the Shirt Front. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Looking along the Upper Access Road either side of the rope tow. The hut seen in the centre of the track housed the radio repeater equipment for the phone link and was a shelter hut for field workers and in case of emergency. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When finished this access track gave skiers an easier way to get down the steep slope from the rope tow.<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-3293 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.9-Easy-Way-Home-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"526\" height=\"340\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.9-Easy-Way-Home-1.jpg 526w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/2.9-Easy-Way-Home-1-300x194.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 526px) 100vw, 526px\" \/><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Cheapskates (2021) Terrain Park<\/span><\/h2><div>\u00a0<\/div><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This park has changed name over the years depending on the business sponsor for that year. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2021 the Terrain Park will be supported again by Cheapskates.<\/span><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">West Bowl<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018West Bowl\u2019 got its name from the bowl-shaped area on the west side of the field. To access it skiers and boarders take the T-bar to the top, traverse a little then grab a short rope tow. The bowl is a lake which freezes and covers with snow most years from mid-season onwards.<\/span><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Six One<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A peak to the west side of the field challenges fitter and more adventurous skiers and boarders. From the top of the T-Bar they traverse past the rope tow to West Bowl then trek up to Six One. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The peak Six One is named due to its height in feet (6,161 ft), on the old pre-metric maps it may have been called point 6161.<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4477 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/southview-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/southview-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/southview-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/southview-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/southview.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Powder Valley<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2018Powder Valley\u2019 is named for its quality snow. This tempting valley lies just outside the east of the field boundary. Keen skiers trek from the top of the T-bar across the east ridge then drop down into the valley. The exit is some distance down the road where hopefully a ride awaits back to base.<\/span><\/p><h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Planets, The Gun Barrell, Aeroplane Corner, Roller Coaster and Boulder Ride<\/span><\/h2><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The origin of these names is presently unknown but the terrain offers a few clues.<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9f7d983 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9f7d983\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e00b95\" data-id=\"0e00b95\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8a69763 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"8a69763\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-8b73591 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"8b73591\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5529a91\" data-id=\"5529a91\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b78374 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b78374\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>What\u2019s in a Name &#8211; Road Features<\/strong><\/h2><p>Stories from the road and how the road features got their names.<\/p><p>Enjoy the\u00a0third selection of the Rainbow story\u00a0and if you know a part of the story that we haven&#8217;t found yet love to hear from you \u00a0<a href=\"mailto:history@rainbow.co.nz\">history@skirainbow.co.nz<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c3e202e elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"c3e202e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-2051\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-2051\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M288.662 352H31.338c-17.818 0-26.741-21.543-14.142-34.142l128.662-128.662c7.81-7.81 20.474-7.81 28.284 0l128.662 128.662c12.6 12.599 3.676 34.142-14.142 34.142z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Click for story<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-2051\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-2051\"><div id=\"t_cs_m227\" class=\"nc-item m227 title-type-h1 nc-first\"><div id=\"m227\" class=\"module Base container\"><div class=\"module-content\"><h2>Stratford\u2019s Corner<\/h2><\/div><h6><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4482 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Stratfords-Corner--1568x1176.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>Stratford\u2019s Corner is an infamous corner on the ski field road, possibly named by Mike Morrison the Mountain Manager at the time.<\/h6><p>\u00a0<\/p><div class=\"module-content\"><div><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"column-6 pad-top-1\"><p>Kerry Stratford tells the story:<\/p><p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/_skirainbow\/Library\/2021%20season\/History\/Stratfords_Corner.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p><p>\u201cStratford\u2019s Corner came about in July 1993 when the road was extremely icy and a few centimetres of new snow. One car had just done a 180 so we were at walking pace in our 4WD with chains on, down towards what is now called Stratford Corner. We had just taken evasive action from a Landcruiser ahead of us in a slide. This in turn made us slide and we ended up slowly skidding around, facing back up hill.\u00a0 Now we were teetering on the brink of the hairpin\u2019s upper edge. It gave way and very slowly we toppled over the edge, rolling completely in the huge amount of snow on the bank, to land back on our wheels and facing the right way.\u00a0 Pretty much every panel on the car was dented and the windscreen broken but the car was quite drivable. \u00a0Even the skis on the roof rack were undamaged. \u00a0I doubt a stunt driver could have done it better! \u00a0Then cars were sliding all over the place. A bit higher up a 4WD van had also gone over the edge, down into the trees. Cars were all backed up and eventually the road was closed while the road crew chopped up the road surface using the groomer.\u00a0 I understand that the last of the public vehicles didn\u2019t get down the road that day until 10:30pm. The whole incident made the Blenheim radio news bulletins the next day.\u201d<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"t_cs_m228\" class=\"nc-item m228 title-type-h2\"><div id=\"m228\" class=\"module Base container\"><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2 class=\"module-title module-title\"><span class=\"module-title-text\">Paddys Rock<\/span><\/h2><h6><span class=\"module-title-text\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4481 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-1568x1176.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/> Paddy&#8217;s Rock 2019<\/span><\/h6><div class=\"module-content\"><div><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"column-6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/_skirainbow\/Library\/2021%20season\/History\/2.11%20Paddys%20Rock%202.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/div><div class=\"column-6\"><p>Derek Cordes tells the story of Paddy\u2019s Rock:<\/p><p>&#8220;On a cold bleak day during a snow storm at Paddy\u2019s Rock in the lower Six Mile Creek, Colin Wishart, New Zealand Forest Service, Environmental Forestry Ranger from Blenheim was inspecting progress of the road construction.\u00a0 Two intrepid personnel from the Rainbow ski field were standing on Paddy\u2019s Rock.\u00a0 Even during a snow storm, they were drilling and blasting this huge rock from the top down.\u00a0 Paddy Dillon was one of the men doing the drilling and had a large hip flask which he used to \u2018keep warm<\/p><p>\u2019.\u00a0 After several days standing on the rock, drilling, blasting and swigging whiskey all this work was found to be completely unnecessary.\u00a0 The road was constructed under this huge rock and the rock was named after Paddy Dillon and was marked by a for sale sign for many years.&#8221;<\/p><h6><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4485 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-2-201x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"201\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-2-201x300.jpg 201w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Paddys-Rock-2.jpg 626w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 201px) 100vw, 201px\" \/>From Dereks Photos Vol 1 page 101<\/h6><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div id=\"t_cs_m229\" class=\"nc-item m229 title-type-h2\"><div id=\"m229\" class=\"module Base container\"><p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/_skirainbow\/Library\/2021%20season\/History\/2.12%20Paddys%20Rock%202017.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/p><h2 class=\"module-title module-title\"><span class=\"module-title-text\">Tobbys Track<\/span><\/h2><div class=\"module-content\"><p>Tobby\u2019s Track was used when the original road was much shorter and did not reach the ski basin.\u00a0 It was named after Tobby Hardy Boyes who had a reputation for carrying large loads of gear up to the landing at the top. The track goes up from the right side of the road, just below Stratford\u2019s Corner, and emerges from the bush on the flat area near where the explosives magazine is now.\u00a0 In the beginning this flat area was used as a helicopter pad. \u00a0<\/p><div><div class=\"row\"><div class=\"column-6\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/_skirainbow\/Library\/2021%20season\/History\/2.13%20Virgin%20country.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/>Helen Rance tells the story of Tobby&#8217;s Track:<\/div><div class=\"column-6\"><blockquote><p>&#8220;Barry and I found the remnants of this track in 2009 \u2013 it is steep and the top flat is very swampy.\u00a0 After emerging from the bush there is still a long way to walk to the base building.\u00a0 Markers carry on from the start of the track down the river.\u00a0 We understand the track is now used for trapping lines.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote><h2>\u00a0<\/h2><h2>Virgin Country<\/h2><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4489\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Virgin-country.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"713\" height=\"627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Virgin-country.jpg 713w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/Virgin-country-300x264.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 713px) 100vw, 713px\" \/><\/p><p>An early aerial photo of virgin untouched country. Looking into the head of Six Mile Creek, Upper Wairau River Rainbow Forest Park.\u00a0 The skyline ridge is the top of the St Arnaud Range, which overlooks the head of Lake Rotoiti.\u00a0 Photo taken before any ski field development in the early winter of 1975.<\/p><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-02c3ead elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"02c3ead\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-01cb3ce\" data-id=\"01cb3ce\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-854b639 elementor-widget elementor-widget-menu-anchor\" data-id=\"854b639\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"menu-anchor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t<style>\/*! elementor - v3.21.0 - 25-04-2024 *\/\nbody.elementor-page .elementor-widget-menu-anchor{margin-bottom:0}<\/style>\t\t<div class=\"elementor-menu-anchor\" id=\"longroad\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-418bb68 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"418bb68\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f1d3748 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f1d3748\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-1281e0f\" data-id=\"1281e0f\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-dcb6927 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"dcb6927\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>It has been a long road<\/strong><\/h2><p>Rising to a height of over 1760m, the Rainbow Ski Area boasts a scenic entrance.\u00a0 The road is about 9 kms and winds up through native beech forest \u2013 a unique attribute for a South Island ski field.\u00a0 But accessing snow sport in this region has not always been easy.\u00a0 Before the Rainbow Ski Area existed and could be reached by road, intrepid skiers would row across the lake then trudge up the hill to Mt Robert \u2013 the birthplace of the Nelson Ski Club formed on 24 August 1944, and officially constituted on 10 November that same year. \u00a0<\/p><p>Development of the roads to the Rainbow Ski Area and also on the ski field were achieved by endless hours of voluntary work from dedicated individuals in the wider Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough communities with the support of some big diggers, excavators and construction companies. \u00a0<\/p><p>Read the story here of how the road now enables snow enthusiasts to drive right up to the snow.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-23d9ddd elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"23d9ddd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-3751\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-3751\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M288.662 352H31.338c-17.818 0-26.741-21.543-14.142-34.142l128.662-128.662c7.81-7.81 20.474-7.81 28.284 0l128.662 128.662c12.6 12.599 3.676 34.142-14.142 34.142z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Click for story<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-3751\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-3751\"><h5><strong>Before the road at Mt Robert<\/strong><\/h5><p>As early as 1929 intrepid skiers were known to ski in the Mt Robert Basin, Eric Chittenden was one of them.<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4410\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.1-Eric-Chittenden.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"206\" height=\"200\" \/> \u00a0<\/p><h6><em>Eric Chittenden First president of the Nelson ski club, then Patron for many years. He died in 2010 aged 101. <\/em><br \/><em>Photo from the Nelson Photo News No 115 May 30 1970<\/em>.<\/h6><p>This was a time when in the area roads were scarce and there was no bridge across the Buller River. Skiers would carry all their gear, much heavier than present day equipment, row across the lake and then trudge their way up the ridge route known as Paddy\u2019s track.<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4411\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.2-Treking-up-Paddys-track.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"286\" height=\"185\" \/> \u00a0<\/p><h6>Determined skiers walk up Paddy\u2019s track for a day on the slopes.<\/h6><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4412\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.3-Rowing-across-the-lake.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"273\" height=\"185\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Rowing across the lake from Kerr Bay in the late 1940s or early 1950s.<\/h6><p>The Nelson Ski Club\u2019s first Annual Report in 1945 shows the purchase of a new row boat cost \u00a320.17.6.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong><em>Fred McKee remembers:<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>Fred used to ski with the Mt Robert Club over 70 years ago! \u201cafter work in Motueka on a Friday night- we would drive to Rotoiti &#8211; fill several dinghies with people, skis, food etc. then row the lake to the foot of Robert, climb to Bushline hut for a couple of well rummed coffees and a couple of hours sleep. Next morning, we would haul a B&amp;S petrol driven portable rope tow up the 1st <\/em><em>basin and enjoy a day skiing.<br \/>One memorable night we had a very full dinghy and were rowing across the lake. Someone sneezed and a nice pair of hickory skis (from Oscar Coberger) slid over the side straight to the bottom of the lake never to be seen again. The owner of the skis was Alan James of Mariri.\u00a0 <br \/>In those days the gun skiers were Peter Hogg, Garry Askew, Brian and Janet Moss, Eric Chittenden and others.<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p><h5><strong>Mt Robert Road<\/strong><\/h5><p>In May 1945, engineer Charles Kidson conducted a survey for a bridge, road and track.\u00a0\u00a0 The first footbridge was completed in 1947, but destroyed by a flood in 1955.\u00a0 A second bridge decked as a footbridge was built May 1955 and replaced by a pre- fabricated traffic bridge in time for the 1960 ski season.\u00a0 In October 1974, the Nelson Lakes National Parks Board approved a 6-kilometre extension of the Mt Robert road from the car park to near 2<sup>nd<\/sup> Basin.\u00a0 But Headlines in the Nelson Evening Mail on 30 September 1980 read \u201c<em>Ski Road Not in Best Interest<\/em>.\u201d \u00a0This was followed by enormous efforts to lobby, research and make submissions for the road extension but the National Parks Board decided it was not in the best interest of the National Park.\u00a0 This meant skiers still had to walk two hours from the car park to the snow. Helicopter flights were run frequently for passengers and freight and were popular, especially on ski weeks.\u00a0 This decision is thought to have later had consequences for the survival of the Mt Robert field.\u00a0 Access was by a long gravel road to the foot of a mountainside and then a 2 hour hike up a steep slope carrying all your ski gear.<\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Excerpt from Correspondence between The Conservator of Forests and the Nelson Ski Club (New Zealand Forest Service Records):<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">21<sup>st<\/sup> November 1978<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">\u201cDear Mr Maplesden,<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">As you are probably aware, the Nelson Ski Club is quite interested in the suggestion that the Six Mile Basin on the Arnaud Range be developed as a ski area for the Club has for the last 30 years been desirous of obtaining road access to suitable skiing slopes \u2026\u2026.<\/span><\/em><\/p><h5><strong>Rainbow Valley Road<\/strong><\/h5><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4413\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.4-Colin.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"454\" height=\"470\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.4-Colin.jpg 454w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.4-Colin-290x300.jpg 290w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 454px) 100vw, 454px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Colin Wilkin<\/h6><p>Colin Wilkin, a Rainbow Life Member (2014), remembers working on the Rainbow Valley Road in the 1950s when electricity pylons were installed to supply power to the Nelson and Buller regions.\u00a0 The Rainbow Valley road runs from St Arnaud, the main gateway to the Upper Wairau Valley, through to Hanmer Springs in North Canterbury, 134km north of Christchurch.<\/p><p>The original route of the Rainbow Valley road came off SH 63 at the bottom of the hill through the Rainbow Station gates.\u00a0 Problems with access arose when the Rainbow Station runholder refused access past the house and buildings. Don Holden found a paper road from original stock routes and the Rainbow Ski Field Company started surveying and cutting fences to gain access.<\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em><strong>From The Marlborough Express\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/strong>Tuesday 26\/5\/1981<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>\u201c<strong>Ski developers run into row over road<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>A row over road access has broken out between the Six Mile Basin developers and the owners of Rainbow Station. <\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>A few weeks ago, a bulldozer following a paper road to cut access to the Six Mile Basin ski field cut through farm fences that were in the way.<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>Yesterday the owners of the fences, Mr and Mrs Harold Mould, obtained a court injunction to stop the skifield developers from entering their land.\u00a0 In March Rainbow Skifield Developments LTD secured a 20-year-licence to develop Six Mile Basin on St Arnaud Range.\u00a0 Access to the basin is through the Upper Wairau off the highway which is part of Rainbow Station\u2026<\/em><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>Rainbow Station has been sold but the contract of sale has not yet been signed\u2026.<\/em><\/span><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><em>Until then Mr and Mrs Mould are the station\u2019s legal owners and they do not want any skifield development at Six Mile Basin&#8230;\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p><p>A road was formed and access was restored re-joining Rainbow Valley Road at the junction of the wagon wheel memorial.\u00a0 \u00a0The issue was finally resolved by negotiation with Crown Lands and the existing road was legalised.<\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4414\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5-Wagon-Wheel-sign.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"632\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5-Wagon-Wheel-sign.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5-Wagon-Wheel-sign-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5-Wagon-Wheel-sign-768x474.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/em><\/p><p>The New Zealand Forest Service main entrance sign to the Rainbow State Forest, at the junction of the Rainbow Station homestead and New Zealand Electricity Department Roads.\u00a0 In keeping with the historical significance of the old coaching route through the Rainbow Station to the old Tarndale Station this sign incorporates two old wagon wheels.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4415 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"563\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021-1568x1176.jpg 1568w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.5A-Wagon-Wheel-2021.jpg 2016w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/>\u00a0<\/p><h6>The Wagon Wheel sign in August 2021<\/h6><h5><strong>Six Mile Creek Road<\/strong><\/h5><p>Construction of the road from Rainbow Valley up Six Mile Creek to the ski field has been identified as one of the most prominent problems in the ski field\u2019s development. Building started in 1981 and took a year to complete. \u00a0It was built with donated labour and money. Initially it only went part of the way up and early skiers and volunteers had to walk the rest of the way to the ski field.<\/p><p>Paddy\u2019s Rock also proved to be a notable challenge to the building of the road.<\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4416\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.6-Dozer-1.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"138\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Building this road presented many adventures and incidents. For example, the day in 1986 when a D6 dozer belonging to Gill Construction Company slipped down the bank into Six Mile Creek. The dozer had been repairing a wash out on the road and thankfully the operator Graham Delany (Grubby) was unhurt.\u00a0<\/h6><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4417\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.7-Dozer-2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"237\" height=\"153\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Photo shows an excavator starting to scratch a track to rescue the dozer.<\/h6><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\"><strong>From The Press 3\/8\/81<\/strong><\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Rainbow Ski field Development Ltd has spent $45,000 so far on developing the road to its Rainbow Ski field.\u00a0 And although the four-wheel drive access road will only be taken as far as the bush line this winter, skiers will be able to use the new ski field by the end of this month&#8230;<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Mr John Smart, a director, said the road would be taken as far as the bush line this winter and skiers would be towed from that area by a groomer which has to be purchased by the company. \u2026\u2026<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">The summer would see the completion of the pilot road and next winter it would be substantially completed for all vehicles. The company would install a rope tow and learner tow to begin with, and by 1983 a T-bar could be in operation. <\/span><\/em><em><span style=\"color: #333399;\">Mr Smart said a T-bar would cost about $300,00 compared to $12,000 for rope tows.<\/span><\/em><\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4418\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.8-Hood-Brothers.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"154\" height=\"168\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Photo of the Hood brothers.\u00a0 Keith on the left and Doug to the right.<\/h6><p>Doug Hood had extensive experience in constructing roads in steep mountainous country. Following the part he played in the development of the successful Mount Hutt Ski Field, his earthmoving company was engaged to construct part of the road up Six Mile Creek to Rainbow.<\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4419\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.9-Feruson-digger.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"344\" height=\"526\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.9-Feruson-digger.jpg 344w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.9-Feruson-digger-196x300.jpg 196w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 344px) 100vw, 344px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Photo shows Ferguson Brothers digger<\/h6><p>The Hood brothers constructed the road to just below the bush line where Ferguson Brothers Construction Ltd from Greymouth took over. Construction of the road above the bush line involved drilling and blasting of hard rock outcrops before the two large excavators could make any headway. Ferguson Brothers completed the road up to the present car park.<\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4420\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.10-toll-ticket.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"248\" height=\"333\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.10-toll-ticket.jpg 248w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.10-toll-ticket-223x300.jpg 223w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 248px) 100vw, 248px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Toll ticket<\/h6><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4421\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.11-Toll-Gate-sign.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"370\" height=\"515\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.11-Toll-Gate-sign.jpg 370w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.11-Toll-Gate-sign-216x300.jpg 216w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 370px) 100vw, 370px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>This information sign was installed by Forest Service staff at the toll gate at the start of the Six Mile Creek road up to the ski field.<\/h6><h6>The ability to drive right up to the ski field became one of the points of difference between the Rainbow and Mt Robert fields, and people were prepared to pay the Rainbow toll fee for the easier access.<\/h6><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-4422 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.11A-Road-sign-181x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"181\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.11A-Road-sign-181x300.jpg 181w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.11A-Road-sign.jpg 482w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 181px) 100vw, 181px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>This information sign was installed by the New Zealand Forest Service at the turn off to the ski field road at its junction with State Highway 63 to Lake Rotoiti and the West Coast.\u00a0 These signs were made by Bing Keats, Forest Service carpenter in their Blenheim workshops.\u00a0 They were a contribution from the Forest Service to the development of the Rainbow Skifield Company.<\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4423\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.12-Wall-of-snow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"602\" height=\"414\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.12-Wall-of-snow.jpg 602w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.12-Wall-of-snow-300x206.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/>\u00a0<\/p><h6>Bill Warner and Bing Keats from the New Zealand Forest service, standing on the top of a Toyota Land Cruiser on the Six Mile Road just above the bush line.\u00a0 This sheer wall of snow was left after the D6 dozer had cut a track through huge snow drifts which had formed on the road.\u00a0 It took three days for the dozer and grader to clear the road up to the Basin and it was one of the biggest snow falls recorded in the Six Mile Creek area.\u00a0 Photo taken in the winter of 1983.<\/h6><h5><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/h5><h5><strong>Shirtfront Earthworks<\/strong><\/h5><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4424\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.13-1975-shirtfront.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"252\" height=\"173\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Photo taken early winter 1975 looking up the middle of the main ski basin the proposed Rainbow ski field. One of the Forest Service manuka sapling snow measuring poles can be seen at the bottom of the Shirt Front slope.\u00a0<\/h6><p>One of the early bugbears at Rainbow was the area known as the Shirtfront which sits just above the main lift terminal. It was difficult terrain for beginner\/intermediate skiers and hard to maintain snow cover on.\u00a0 Rainbow applied to DOC for permission to re-contour it by taking about 3 meters out of the top of it and filing the bottom. Helen Clark was the Minister for Conservation at the time. She flew in by Airforce Helicopter to inspect the proposal and approved both the work and the Code proposed for such work. Ultimately, this became the Code adopted for all Ski fields in NZ. The original work was done by a large bulldozer and made a fantastic difference. To this day, it is still how the slope is configured.\u00a0 As part of the permitted works there was scope to do rock grooming on the main runs \u2013 a big help when trying to open on limited snow. \u00a0David Dewe<\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4425\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.14-Shirt-front-digger.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"413\" height=\"291\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.14-Shirt-front-digger.png 413w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.14-Shirt-front-digger-300x211.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 413px) 100vw, 413px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>At the time this work was done Dirk Robinson showed us how a 20 tonne digger could \u2018Ski.\u2019\u00a0 He drove this machine down the shirtfront with it skiing most of the way but he was such a great operator he could control it even doing that.\u00a0 Adapted from David Dewe<\/h6><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4426\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.15-Shirt-Front-2016.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"258\" height=\"153\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>The Shirt Front 2016<\/h6><h5><strong>Upper Access Road<\/strong><\/h5><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4427\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.16-Upper-access-road.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"378\" height=\"235\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.16-Upper-access-road.jpg 378w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.16-Upper-access-road-300x187.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 378px) 100vw, 378px\" \/><\/em><\/p><p>In order to reach the upper parts of the ski field and Shirt Front an access road was built early in the Rainbow ski field\u2019s history. This access road gave safe passage to vehicles, equipment and workers enabling them to reach ski lift systems to carry out maintenance and repairs. This road made it easier for ski patrollers to extract injured skiers off the upper slopes back to the first aid room.\u00a0 During the season when covered in snow it is known as the Easy Way Home.<\/p><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4428\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.17-Old-Wooden-Culvert.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"445\" height=\"307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.17-Old-Wooden-Culvert.jpg 445w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.17-Old-Wooden-Culvert-300x207.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 445px) 100vw, 445px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>Old wooden culvert<\/h6><p><em><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4429\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.18-Road-Washout.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"437\" height=\"306\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.18-Road-Washout.jpg 437w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.18-Road-Washout-300x210.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 437px) 100vw, 437px\" \/><\/em><\/p><h6>A washout on the road up Six Mile Creek.\u00a0 This section had to be reconstructed and new larger concrete culverts put in. The concrete culvert can be seen lying down in the creek.\u00a0 With heavy rain falls in the area, especially during the spring months, road washouts did occur, and this put an unpredictable financial burden on the ski company.\u00a0 Over the years the wooden culverts were replaced with concrete ones as the original wooden one did not stand up to the harsh conditions. Photo by Karen and Mike Ryan<\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-4430\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.19.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"744\" height=\"511\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.19.jpg 744w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/3.19-300x206.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 744px) 100vw, 744px\" \/>\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p><h6>This sign is installed at the turn of to the ski field road at its junction with State Highway 63.\u00a0<\/h6><p>The road from the Rainbow Valley up to the ski field is maintained solely by the Club.\u00a0\u00a0 It also provides access for DOC and other conservation organisations to carry out pest management and monitoring activities. Rainbow provides the only year-round road accessible alpine environment in the Marlborough\/Nelson-Tasman region and as such is regularly used by groups as diverse as the Mountain Safety Council, LandSAR, NZ Police, Defence Force, universities and clubs for a wide range of alpine activities.<\/p><p>Today, the maintenance of the road requires constant work and is a major item in seasonal budgets.<\/p><p>The weather has, and continues, to have an impact on the access road to the Rainbow ski field.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-e5dba97 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"e5dba97\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-8f12bee\" data-id=\"8f12bee\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d0c3d97 elementor-widget elementor-widget-spacer\" data-id=\"d0c3d97\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"spacer.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-spacer-inner\"><\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1acb0cb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1acb0cb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-64d607e\" data-id=\"64d607e\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-023a96f elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"023a96f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2><strong>The First 20 Years<\/strong><\/h2><p>Skiing in the Nelson area reputedly started in 1929 when Eric Chittenden rowed across Lake Rotoiti walked up the ridge and skied on Mt Robert ridge for the first time. \u00a0As more people began skiing on Mt Robert the Nelson Ski Club was formed in August 1944 and constituted in November that year.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-81ea53c elementor-widget elementor-widget-toggle\" data-id=\"81ea53c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"toggle.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-toggle-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-title-1361\" class=\"elementor-tab-title\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"button\" aria-controls=\"elementor-tab-content-1361\" aria-expanded=\"false\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon elementor-toggle-icon-left\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-closed\"><svg class=\"e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-right\" viewBox=\"0 0 192 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M0 384.662V127.338c0-17.818 21.543-26.741 34.142-14.142l128.662 128.662c7.81 7.81 7.81 20.474 0 28.284L34.142 398.804C21.543 411.404 0 402.48 0 384.662z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened\"><svg class=\"elementor-toggle-icon-opened e-font-icon-svg e-fas-caret-up\" viewBox=\"0 0 320 512\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"M288.662 352H31.338c-17.818 0-26.741-21.543-14.142-34.142l128.662-128.662c7.81-7.81 20.474-7.81 28.284 0l128.662 128.662c12.6 12.599 3.676 34.142-14.142 34.142z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-toggle-title\" tabindex=\"0\">Click for story<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t<div id=\"elementor-tab-content-1361\" class=\"elementor-tab-content elementor-clearfix\" data-tab=\"1\" role=\"region\" aria-labelledby=\"elementor-tab-title-1361\"><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A request from the Nelson Ski Club to construct a road up Mt Robert was passed onto the Nelson Lakes National Parks Authority for their opinion and suggestions. The Parks Authority responded to the Nelson Ski Club suggesting they should look at other areas which might be suitable for a ski field.\u00a0 <\/span><b>\u00a0\u00a0<\/b><a href=\"#longroad\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It Has Been a Long Road<\/span><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The National Parks Authority and Nelson Lakes Parks Board then contacted the New Zealand Forest Service enquiring about suitable areas to establish a ski field in the Rainbow State Forest.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The search was on for place to ski within reach of Nelson.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mid to late 1970s, Nelson Ski Club members made several trips to Six Mile Creek basin during the winter months to test snow conditions and scope future development.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><b>Finding the Rainbow\u00a0<\/b><\/p><h6><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Phillip Coote writes in the Nelson Ski Club booklet <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe following weekend I took most of my committee up the Wairau River to where the Six Mile Creek flows in.\u00a0 We left our cars there and carried our boots and skis up the valley to the proposed ski-field.\u00a0 Unfortunately, it was a warm misty day, the visibility was poor and the snow practically unskiable.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> pg 36 &amp; 37<\/span><\/em><\/h6><h6>\u00a0<\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><em style=\"font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: 0.8px;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5292 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-1024x691.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"506\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-1024x691.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-768x518.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-1536x1036.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-2048x1381.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rainbow2-1568x1058.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/span><\/em><\/h6><h6>\u00a0<\/h6><h6><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo, taken Oct 1978, shows members of the Nelson ski club ready to walk up the south side of Six Mile Creek to explore the Rainbow basin.<\/span><\/em><\/h6><h6><em> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><\/em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5257 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-1024x693.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-1024x693.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-300x203.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-768x520.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-1536x1039.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-2048x1386.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Rainbow1-1568x1061.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/span><\/h6><h6><em><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From left; John Fitchett, Stephen or Donald Hannah, Graham Snook, Jock Braithwaite, Min White, Michael Fulton, Ian Catto, Tony Doogue, Phillip Coote and two Doogue children.<\/span><\/em><\/h6><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">P<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hoto of the same team led by Geoff Gilbert (not in previous photo) exploring the Basin.<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5293 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-1024x690.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"750\" height=\"505\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-1024x690.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-300x202.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-768x517.jpg 768w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-1536x1034.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-2048x1379.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/20220502_102627-1568x1056.jpg 1568w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px\" \/><\/p><h6>\u00a0<\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">John Fitchett, Rod White and Gary Askew on top of 6100 after flying in from the Mt Robert car park.\u00a0 They returned via the NZ Forest Service Track on the south side of Six Mile creek.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ski club members concluded that the area was not up to standard for skiing or future development into a ski field. They reapplied for permission to build the road up to Mt Robert but were turned down in 1980 as road development was not considered to be in the best long-term interests of Nelson Lakes National Park.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Searching for skiable snow<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the early 70\u2019s the land on the eastern side of the Saint Arnaud range was administered by the NZ Forrest Service.\u00a0 The NZ Forest Service (Derek Cordes, Blenheim) had done snow surveys (Rod White, Nelson) in Six Mile Basin as a possible ski field site. \u00a0 Rangers tramped up from the Rainbow Valley every so often to measure the snow depth.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For a while little interest was shown in development even though the NZFS reports were promising. In the late 70s using their information and data, a largely Blenheim group decided to take more interest in the Six Mile Creek Basin location.\u00a0 After some test skiing by helicopter, they applied for a licence from the Forest Service to build a ski area.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5261 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-4-Forest-service-staff-Copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"324\" height=\"228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-4-Forest-service-staff-Copy.jpg 324w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-4-Forest-service-staff-Copy-300x211.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 324px) 100vw, 324px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Early days in the Six Mile Creek. A helicopter inspection trip into the area by Forest Service Staff to transport posts and check on existing poles.<\/span><\/h6><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">From the left;\u00a0 Bryan Fitzgerald helicopter pilot from Blenheim, Office girl from Forest Service Conservancy Office in Nelson. Snow Corby\u00a0 NZ Forest Service Environmental Senior Ranger from Conservancy Office in Nelson, Jayne Reader from the Forest Service Office in Blenheim.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5263 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-5-helicopter-Copy.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"271\" height=\"184\" \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Loading a Hughes 500D helicopter at the New Zealand Forest Service Base house at Dip Flat, ready to fly into the head of Six Mile Creek with personnel and gear to record snow depth measurement and snowpack research.<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5266 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-6-Derek-at-pole-7.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"208\" height=\"245\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Derek Cordes, New Zealand Forest Service Environmental Forestry Ranger from Blenheim, measuring snow density at pole no.7.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When the New Zealand Forest Service was involved with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR) scientists from Lower Hutt, the snowpack research and measurements at each pole became very sophisticated and advanced.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Scientists from DSIR were trying to interpret different snowpack types and depict heavy snow falls from photo images taken by the Land-Sat satellite as it passed over the area.\u00a0This was a world first that scientists were working on images from the Land-Sat satellite to depict snow types and avalanche danger.\u00a0The scientists made and supplied all the measuring instruments that were required by Forest Service Staff to evaluate and\u00a0survey the snowpack.\u00a0They also visited the area on several occasions accompanied by Forest Service Rangers and staff to explain the methods and procedures required to take the intricate measurements from each pole.\u00a0The measurements had to be started before 9am in the morning when the satellite passed overhead to take its photo images.\u00a0After the Forest Service put a hut in the Six Mile Basin the staff were able to get there the day before the snowpack measurements were due to be done.\u00a0 The snowpack measurements were done by Forest Service staff in close cooperation\u00a0with the DSIR scientists from Lower Hutt<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5267 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-7-at-pole-14.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"219\" height=\"347\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-7-at-pole-14.jpg 219w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-7-at-pole-14-189x300.jpg 189w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 219px) 100vw, 219px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Snow measuring pole no. 14 near the top of the Six Mile Creek Basin.\u00a0 The number and identification symbol on the top of pole and painted colour segments were introduced so snow depth and pole recognition could be measured and photographed from an aircraft.\u00a0 These measurements and aerial photos were rough and inadequate.\u00a0 The idea proved to be very costly, impractical and unreliable.\u00a0 Measurements and recording from the ground proved more reliable.\u00a0 This photo taken during the winter months of 1976.<\/span><\/h6><p><b>Rainbow Ski Field Developments Limited<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rainbow Ski Field Developments Limited was formed 1989 from the efforts of Blenheim lawyer Don Holden and several other business men.\u00a0 Blenheim lawyer David Dew (Harry\u2019s Way) was instrumental in having the area rezoned as a ski field in the Marlborough District Council\u2019s Wairau Awatere Resource Management Plan and through his efforts, the cost was shared between the Council, the Department of Defense and the ski company.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This initial company, secured a 21 year licence to occupy 850 hectares of the New Zealand Forest Service (now DOC) and develop the ski field in Six Mile Creek Basin.\u00a0 The licence had a right of renewal for another 21 years.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Subscriptions and about 460 shareholders from the Top of the South and West Coast were sought to fund the venture.<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5268 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-8-Share-certificate.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"228\" height=\"186\" \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A second pool of public submissions was then called for further earthworks to smooth and lower the notorious Shirt Front. Jim Dovey (Blenheim) was the engineer in charge and this further improved the field\u2019s reputation as a good all-round ski area with excellent snow cover and sunny weather. The volume of public attendances soon meant additional rope tows were needed. One was installed alongside the original tow and another up the steeper East Face for more advanced skiers.<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5269 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-9-rope-tow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"204\" height=\"165\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A photo of the first old original rope tow at the Rainbow ski field.\u00a0 The tow was powered and driven by an old diesel Fordson tractor, which had its back wheels removed and replaced by large rope pulleys. This allowed the pulleys to run freely and drive the rope tow.The tractor was was jacked up onto an iron frame and housed in a custom built shed. The large diesel tank behind the engine shed was very close to to the creek which drained nearby wetlands. Later the tank was shifted and cluvert pipes were installed to protect the creek.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo taken by Malcolm Aitken about 1982<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With huge volunteer efforts the road was built, a second-hand snow groomer was purchased, the A frame built and two rope tows (including the learners tow) were installed together with base buildings and carparking.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5270 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-10-learners-queue-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"173\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Learners queue for the hand grip learners tow seen to the left of the photo.\u00a0 Photo also shows a Ski School in session.<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5271 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-11-tractor-rope-tow.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"268\" height=\"168\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The hand grip learners tow powered by a small Fordson Tractor. \u00a0 This tow and tractor was retrieved from the defunct ski field at Lake Tekapo.\u00a0 Photo by Karen and Mike Ryan<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5272 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-12-building-in-the-rain-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"267\" height=\"194\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Building in the rain to ensure the building was ready for 1982 opening season.\u00a0 This building was sponsored by Anderson Ski and Boot Hire Centre. \u00a0 Photo by Karen and Mike Ryan.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5273 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-13-groomer.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"276\" height=\"182\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Kassboher snow groomer high tailing it down the slopes.\u00a0 In the distance the A frame has just been completed but the public toilets are still under construction. To the right of the groomer are posts for the old rope tow.\u00a0 \u00a0 Photo taken during field development in 1982<\/span><\/h6><p><b>OFFICAL OPENING 14 August 1982<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><b>Rainbow Ski Area<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was officially opened to the public on 14 August 1982.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5274 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-14-offical-opening.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"252\" height=\"187\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Mr R.G. Talbot Minister of Tourism officially opening the Rainbow Ski Field.\u00a0 Beside him are Mr Doug Kidd M.P. for Marlborough and Mr Doug McKee from Nelson.<\/span><\/h6><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe plaque on the A frame reads \u201cRainbow Ski Area opened by Hon R.G. Talbot M.P. Minister of Tourism 14<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">th<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> August 1982.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5275 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-15-public-at-opening-192x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-15-public-at-opening-192x300.jpg 192w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-15-public-at-opening.jpg 223w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Some of the public watching the official opening.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5276 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-16-1st-manager-196x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"196\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-16-1st-manager-196x300.jpg 196w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-16-1st-manager.jpg 204w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 196px) 100vw, 196px\" \/><\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo shows Bruce Robinson watching construction of the last segment of the road.\u00a0 As the first manager at Rainbow Bruce led development of the base station area, buildings, carparks, and roads ready for the first opening season in 1982.<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5277 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-17-1st-brocchure-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"408\" height=\"313\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-17-1st-brocchure-1.jpg 408w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-17-1st-brocchure-1-300x230.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 408px) 100vw, 408px\" \/><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5278 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-18-1st-brochure-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"405\" height=\"255\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-18-1st-brochure-2.jpg 405w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-18-1st-brochure-2-300x189.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first glossy, promotional brochure to entice people to Rainbow probably produced in the winter of 1982 or 1983 when the ski field still only operated with rope tows.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first season ran until November but<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">finances were exhausted, so more shares were issued and deals done to sort debt.\u00a0 The 1984 season was not so great but skiers and the community helped.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1985 the field had a good season and the first trail map was produced by John Lundon. Harry\u2019s way and other names of runs <a href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/trail-map\/\">were born.<\/a>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5279 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-19-descion-makers.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"316\" height=\"232\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-19-descion-makers.jpg 316w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-19-descion-makers-300x220.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 316px) 100vw, 316px\" \/><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A bunch of four good looking stooges making high power decisions on future work programmes.\u00a0 From the left: David Dewe, the late Jim Dovey, Peter Alloway and Dick Mol. They are standing in the bottom car park with the ski hire building still on its original site in the background. Photo by Karen and Mike Ryan<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A double rope tow was put in on the main run in 1986 and the season was a success. About this time several creeks in base area were boarded over with kind donations of timber from the Anderson Family.<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5280 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-20-advertisement-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"301\" height=\"224\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Newspaper advertisement Tuesday, August 6, 1988.<\/span><\/h6><p><b>Snow making<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Under the leadership of Jim Dovey and David Dew snow making was installed to ensure that the field could lay down a good base of man-made snow and cover high traffic areas as required. Reputedly Rainbow was one of the earliest fields to install snow makers.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5281 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-21-snow-makers-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"336\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-21-snow-makers-1.jpg 336w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-21-snow-makers-1-300x199.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 336px) 100vw, 336px\" \/><\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo of the first two American made snow making guns ready for delivery to the field.\u00a0 The Rainbow Ski Field company hoped to have then fully operational for the start of the 1987 season.\u00a0 At this stage no other ski field in NZ had a big enough natural reservoir of water or a tarn situated halfway up its slopes like Rainbow had.\u00a0 The tarn was a great bonus to Rainbow Ski Company.\u00a0 Photo by Karen and Mike Ryan<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5282 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-22-snow-makers-2.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"307\" height=\"205\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-22-snow-makers-2.jpg 307w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-22-snow-makers-2-300x200.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 307px) 100vw, 307px\" \/><\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A line up of five American made snow making guns in the carpark at Rainbow.\u00a0 The black coloured guns were models: S.M.I. Highlander and the blue ones were S.M.I. Boyne models.\u00a0 Rainbow started with 2 guns and soon progressed to 10 guns to cover the field.\u00a0 Photo taken by Dick and Jan Mol.<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5283 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-23-tarn-and-pump-station.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"254\" height=\"160\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo shows the first pump engine shed and jetty for the intake pipe that pumped water through a series of pipelines to snow making gun connection outlets.\u00a0 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo also shows the large tarn halfway up the field that enabled Rainbow to be the first ski field in NZ to install snow making.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo taken by Dick and Jan Mol during the installation of the snow making equipment, pipelines and cable in 1991<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-5284 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-24-lone-snow-gun.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"270\" height=\"174\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo shows a lone a compressed air snow making gun working on the field.\u00a0 With suitable weather conditions the guns ran all night. Photo by Dick and Jan Mol<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5285 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-25-lunch-time-.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"626\" height=\"457\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-25-lunch-time-.jpg 626w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-25-lunch-time--300x219.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 626px) 100vw, 626px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bar be Que on the slopes\u00a0<\/span><\/h6><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h6><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lunch time on the slopes during race day.\u00a0 Gathering around for a bite to eat are, from the left, Nigel Taylor, Jenny Crum, David Dew, Don Holden, Malcolm Aitken (chief cook for the day), Ron Borrie and Mike Ryan. Photo from Karan and Mike Ryan<\/span><\/h6><p><b>Rainbow Valley Ski Area Ltd.<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1989 the continued popularity of Rainbow saw its ownership change from a locally owned non-profit organisation to a new company called <\/span><b>Rainbow Valley Ski Area<\/b> <b>Ltd<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Introducing a new a board and more capital. The principal shareholder and chairman was Grant Horner, Manager of Dopplemayr Lifts Australasia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 1991 Round Hill ski field at Tekapo was selling infrastructure.\u00a0 Rainbow Valley Ski Area Ltd. bought and relocated a double chairlift which became a feature of Rainbow when many other small fields were still using rope tows.\u00a0 Rainbow also bought a power generator and reticulation system of ground pipes and power, pumphouse and water pipes to link the main tarns along the length of the chairlift.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5286 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-26-chair-lift--300x223.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"223\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-26-chair-lift--300x223.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-26-chair-lift-.jpg 321w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Australian Graham Barker was so enchanted with Rainbow when he visited in 1995 he wrote about it in his travelogue.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cA spin-off of spending time at Rainbow was that I got to know some of the staff and regulars. It&#8217;s that sort of place &#8211; the small numbers (of both staff and visitors) and laid-back atmosphere make skiing there a more friendly experience than at the major resorts.\u201d<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5287 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-27-Chair-and-base-building.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"302\" height=\"202\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-27-Chair-and-base-building.jpg 302w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-27-Chair-and-base-building-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Photo by Graham Barker shows base buildings and the chair lift in 1995.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Graham\u2019s blog\u00a0 <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/www.roamingdownunder.com\/rainbow-valley.php\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rainbow Valley<\/span><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Graham also made a video of skiing at Rainbow in the days of the chairlift and he apologises for the quality of the film.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><b>\u201c<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unfortunately, the quality is limited by it being shot on an old analogue camera, heavy as a house brick and hard to ski with<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u2026. If only GoPro cameras had been around back then\u201d.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>\u00a0Graham\u2019s video\u00a0 <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/vimeo.com\/gbarker\/skiingrainbow\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Skiing at Rainbow<\/span><\/a><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This link from the UK, shows the view from the old Rainbow Chair Lift now at Ohau skifield.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThe chair, moved here from an old club field in 2004, doesn\u2019t exactly whip you up the 400m, but it certainly does give you time to gawp at the edge-of-world surroundings.\u201d<\/span><\/h6><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5291 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-31-Ohau-chair-lift.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"366\" height=\"259\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-31-Ohau-chair-lift.jpg 366w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-31-Ohau-chair-lift-300x212.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 366px) 100vw, 366px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Old Rainbow Chair at Ohau<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The ski area was expanded in 1993 by installation of a T-bar from the base area for approximately 600 metres.\u00a0 Rainbow Valley Ski Area Ltd invested heavily in road improvements, more buildings and car parks, base area drainage and reworked the shirtfront and some of the mid area slopes.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5288 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-28-2nd-brochure-1-287x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"287\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-28-2nd-brochure-1-287x300.jpg 287w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-28-2nd-brochure-1.jpg 312w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 287px) 100vw, 287px\" \/><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-5289 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-29-2nd-brochure-2-300x281.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"281\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-29-2nd-brochure-2-300x281.jpg 300w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-29-2nd-brochure-2.jpg 310w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Probably the second promotional brochure published in 1996 when the double chair lift was still operational.<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2001 After several poor snow seasons at Mt Robert the Nelson Ski Club approached<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Rainbow Valley Ski Area Ltd to establish a day lodge for club members at Rainbow.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was hoped that easy road access and a club day lodge might encourage new younger members to the ski club. This was supported by the Rainbow company and the present day lodge was installed with voluntary community labour in time for the 2003 season.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-5290 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-30-the-ending-and-Mt-Rob-hut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"380\" height=\"238\" srcset=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-30-the-ending-and-Mt-Rob-hut.jpg 380w, https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Image-30-the-ending-and-Mt-Rob-hut-300x188.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 380px) 100vw, 380px\" \/><\/p><h6><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An overview of the base area showing the buildings and car park levels.\u00a0 The Mount Robert day lodge, built by the Nelson Ski Club, is to the right of the cleared learners area. In the lower middle of this photo, taken from the top of the Shirt Front, is the chair lift engine and generator shed in the process of being dismantled for transport to Lake Ohau.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/h6><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In 2003, Rainbow shareholders decided to pursue other financial interests and put the ski field on the market but with no buyers coming forward they started selling assets.\u00a0 The chair lift was sold to Ohau Ski Field, and with no lift the field closed at the end of the 2003 season.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b>Beyond Rainbow<\/b><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Members realised that drive-on access and modern lifts were expected by snow enthusiasts and this led to the Nelson Ski Club investigating the reawakening of Rainbow. A Special General Meeting of Mt Robert Snow Sports Club Inc. on 20 February 2003 was called to discuss the changed situation at Rainbow and implications of four poor snow seasons at Mt Robert.\u00a0 As a result, a group of dedicated skiers, under the leadership of Martin Hay, reluctant to see the area lose facilities, formed the <\/span><b>Rainbow Project Steering Gro<\/b><b>up<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. They<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">raised a lot of money and the <\/span><b>Beyond Rainbow Community Trust<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was formed as a non-profit enterprise in 2004.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Forty years ago a group of keen skiers came together and turned their dream of a\u00a0ski field\u00a0up the Rainbow peaks into a reality.\u00a0 \u00a0Ever since then snow lovers have graced, snow boarded, zoomed, tobogganed and tumbled down the slopes. The development of Rainbow and its survival is testament to the hard work and cooperation of&hellip; <a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/our-story\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Our Story<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_header_footer","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Our Story - skirainbow.co.nz<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/skirainbow.co.nz\/our-story\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Our Story - skirainbow.co.nz\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Forty years ago a group of keen skiers came together and turned their dream of a\u00a0ski field\u00a0up the Rainbow peaks into a reality.\u00a0 \u00a0Ever since then snow lovers have graced, snow boarded, zoomed, tobogganed and tumbled down the slopes. 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