Mid Styx Hut

(Mid Styx Hut: Photo Andrew Buglass 2009)

Maintenance Status

Mid Styx Hut is a Permolat maintain by community project. It was designated as minimal maintenance by DOC in 2004, but as it had received no official maintenance since the Forest Service era, it was was getting very delapidated. The piles and floor had rotted out and it was hemmed in by regenerating bush. Phil Evans of Hokitika submitted an early maintain by community proposal and cleared a lot of the regrowth on the northern side of the Hut. He withdrew his proposal shortly after and in 2008 Permolat put its own in. Mid Styx was re-piled, re-floored, and had its hearth re-concreted during a working bee in February 2009, with DOC flying the materials in free of charge. The access tracks to the Hut were recut and marked at the same time, and will be maintained by the Group.

Location

Styx valley. Map BV19. Grid Ref: E1456688/ N5249300. 460m altitude. Mid Styx is located on the bush terraces above the TL of the Styx River, about 2/3's of the way up the valley. Mature podocarp/ rata/ hardwood forest surrounds the Hut and there is a great-deep bush ambience here. Mid Styx is a short easy tramp from the Styx roadend, but has historically been overlooked, being on the opposite side of the River to the main valley track. A swingbridge across the Styx just above Tyndall Creek was washed out in the 1980's making a ford of the Styx necessary for access. This along with overgrowing tracks on the TL of the valley further isolated the Hut. Visits have increased significantly since Mid Styx was profiled on the site and the Hut and track maintenance was done. It is now getting 1-3 per month.

Access

There are two possible routes to Mid Styx. There is access from the lower valley via Tyndall Creek and a track up terraces on the TL of the Styx. The fords at this end are not ideal currently, although dry-weather crossings can be found with a bit of care up and downstream of Tyndall Creek. A rough, marked DOC stoatline on the TL can be followed back to the Creek. Head up the Creek to around the 400m countour (E1455808/ N5249053) where cairns and cruise tape mark the start of the track. It exits the Creek and climbs steeply for 15 minutes up onto the terrace, then flattens and continues upriver for around a half hour to the Hut. The track was recut and marked in 2009 by the Permolat volunteers.

The upper valley route is a good hour further up the Styx valley from Tyndall Creek and has safer fords currently. A wooden sign marks the the turnoff. The Styx can be forded opposite the sign or back downstream around stoat trap 67. If crossing by the sign, you'll need to head back down the TL bank, cross a large side creek, and continue 50m down the DOC stoatline to the large orange triangle marking the start of the track up to the Hut. The ford at stoat trap 67 is pretty much opposite the triangle, but is a bit swifter than the top ford.

The track up to the Hut was re-trimmed and marked in 2008/ 9 by Permolat volunteers. It climbs steeply onto the river terrace, then flattens, continuing North above the TL of the side creek. After 10-15 minutes the track veers West and heads downriver for 1/2 a kilometre to the Hut.

Allow 2-2.5 hours from the Styx road end to the Hut for both routes. If the Styx is running high it may be possible to get out down the TL of the valley following the DOC stoatline, however Tyndall Creek can also be dangerous or unfordable after heavy rain.

Type

Mid Styx is a standard NZFS four-bunk design with open fire, built in the 1960's. The cupboard and woodbox vestible were removed in 2009 during the reflooring. There is no toilet currently and water is from a small creek next to the Hut. The bunks are wire netting with mattresses. The Hut still has its original orange NZFS paint job, which is getting very flakey.

Condition

The Hut's floor, piles, joists and bearers were all replaced, and the hearth re-concreted in 2009. The Hut framing above floor level is original and was surprisingly dry and well preserved despite the floor rotting out. There is a roof leak just above the door and the odd small hole here and there in the tin cladding on the walls. The chimney is original and has a few large rust patches. The roof badly needs repainting and the sheet of clearlite in the roof is well past its best-by date. DOC have recently flown in some new mattresses.

Routes

An old tops track providing access to the Browning Range a short distance upvalley from Mid Styx was recut by Permolat volunteers in 2009/ 10. It branches West from the upriver access track to Mid Styx Hut and continues up the TL terrace of the big side creek to a spur leading to the tussock. The top 200m of the track is only roughly cut and to gain the main ridge leading to Cairn Peak you can either stay on the spur, which gets steep and awkward, or take a side track that sidles West into a small gut with short sparse, scrub and scattered tussock. The track has been remarked with red cruise tape and light blue forestry paint. Its top entrance is marked with orange electric fence gate flags. Much of the original Permolat is covered in grey-black mould and is difficult to see. Allow two hours from Mid Styx Hut to the tussock. There is a good tarn further up the spur, a useful water supply on the route to Cairn Peak (4-5 hours from Mid Styx Hut) and a potential camp site. It is possible to traverse the tops from here to Browning Biv by dropping into the tussock basin at the head of the side creek and up the ridge on its TR. A high sidle at approximately the 1700m mark will get you around and down to Lathrop Saddle, and the poled route to Browning Biv. Allow 5hrs from Mid Styx to Browning Biv (it would be quicker and easier of course just to go up the main valley, then up the ridge track to the Biv from Grassy Flat).

Repairs Needed

Mid Styx still needs to be painted and resealed. A woodshed will be built at some point and a toilet wouldn't be a bad idea. It has been suggested that a cowling be made for the top of the chimney. The clearlite in the roof also needs replacing. There is a bit of a rat problem currently and some poison has been laid and with a supply in a labelled jar..

Provisions on site

One stool, a broom, two axes, a hand saw, a hearth shovel and brush, some sheets in a sealed barrel, a gas canister stove (without cannister). There are some billies, pans, cutlery, plates, a cup, a hammer, some tin snips, tools, a first aid kit, and other provisions that belong to Phil Evans, but he is happy with folk using them.