27
The Bulletin, September 2016
Joe Blyth
THOMAS ARTHUR BLYTH
Thomas Arthur Blyth, usually known as
Joe or Joey, was a tramper, explorer and skier
who over 30 years did much to open up access
to the south-western slopes of Mt Ruapehu
above Ohakune.
From 1909 when he was appointed
headmaster of Ohakune School until he died
in 1940, Joe Blyth made 147 ascents of the
main peak of Ruapehu and forged tracks
below what is now called the Turoa skifield.
Ohakune Hut (later named Blyth Hut)
was built in 1920-21 and was used mainly
for tramping and mountaineering, and not
for skiing.
However, Blyth and his friends sometimes
made tours on skis and went skiing on what
they called Gliding Gladys, now the top slope
of the Turoa skifield.
The hut was built by members of the
Ruapehu Ski Club on contract to Government
agencies, and was based on the design of a
hut built at Whakapapa in 1919-20.
Joe Blyth was an inaugural member of
the Tongariro National Park Board which
was established in 1922.
At the board’s first meeting at a private
hotel at Waimarino (now National Park), he
asked for and gained approval to continue to
collect half crowns (2s 6d) (25c) from people
using the Ohakune track which he had cut
through bush.
He said it was little better than an elongated
bog which had been badly cut up by horses,
but the half crowns would help pay for
improvements.
The “Old Blyth Track” is still walked today
by trampers and visitors. This historic route
climbs the mid-slopes passing through red
beech forest and crossing alpine bogs along
the way.
The trail eventually connects with the
Waitonga Falls Track and on to the Round
the Mountain Track.
Joe Blyth’s name was given in the 1950s
to a shelter built on the crater rim at the top
of the Whakapapa Glacier.
Also, Blyth Flat on Turoa skifield is named
after him.
He served in World War 1, played rugby
at fullback for Taranaki and was a founding
member of the Waimarino Golf Club.
He wrote diaries during his time abroad at
World War 1.
The new 20-bunk Blyth Hut at 1380 metres
is owned by DOC and is available to the
public on a first-in first-served basis.
The original 22-bunk Blyth Hut was
demolished after the current hut was built
in 1975.
Joe did little skiing and preferred
tramping and climbing, but he was a
member of the Ruapehu Ski Club and was
a Vice-President of RSC from 1934 until
he died in 1940.
His son Jack won the national cross-
country skiing championship at Mt Cook in
1946 and more recently his great-great grand-
daughter Chloe Smith became the first fifth
generation member of RSC.
The Blyth family is having a Joe Blyth
reunion at Ohakune in March 2017, based
on RSC Turoa plus Wairarapa Lodge. They
have 56 attending so far.