Recreational mountaineering had begun in the early 1900s and from the time the hostel was established, increasing numbers of climbers came to the glacier region. Guiding climbers and tourists had its highlights but also its share of tragedies.
Mary (Sullivan) Kerr was killed in 1986 after being struck by a truck outside Christchurch Hospital while on the way to visit her sick husband, Doug. Those who knew Mary will remember her standing, with glass in hand, telling stories of famous people she’d hosted. She was a down-to-earth character, not impressed by airs and graces. As mine host at the hotel for many years, she became well-known for her practicality and humour.
Not too many mountaineers can boast that they climbed with Ed Hillary. When younger, Mick Jnr had often tramped and climbed in the Southern Alps where he made the first descent of the southern ridge of Mt Cook with the now famous mountaineer. Mick and his brother, Jim acted as guides on the Fox Glacier and alpine passes. It was common for these two, assisted by Lawn and Fred Williams and other locals to assist in rescues whenever climbers ran into difficulties or when bodies had to be retrieved. This meant giving up valuable time from their farming operations, also putting their own lives at risk when climbing in bad weather. Helicopter rescues lay in the future but at the time such rescue work was unpaid and simply regarded as a duty to help others in times of need.
The hotel passed out of family hands in 1995 ending an era in the development of the tourist industry in South Westland. The large wooden hotel is the first landmark encountered when motorists emerge from the bush-lined road to find themselves in the Fox Glacier township which is now a busy tourist centre. The foresight and hard work of these early pioneers is part of history, and like all human endeavours, their pioneering story is largely unknown to those who visit the area for a few days or who now staff the many accommodation places which exist there.
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