Johnson Hut

(Johnson Hut: Photo Glenn Johnston 2010: Double click to get larger image)

Maintenance Status

Johnson hut is designated as minimal maintenance and won't be replaced at the end of its life. The Johnson valley is zoned as "remote experience," meaning existing facilities may be maintained, but not necessarily replaced. The original tracks in the valley haven't been maintained for many years, and are unlikely to be in the future.

Location

Mohikinui catchment. Map BQ22. Grid Ref: E1539566/ N5409093. Altitude 392m. Johnson Hut is situated on the TR of the Johnson River, 1.7 km upriver from its confluence with the North Branch of the Mokihinui River. The Hut is 70m further West from the River than marked on the topo map. A new sign placed on the river bed marks the route up to the Hut, which is in a small clearing surrounded by scattered, regenerating silver beech. North of the Hut the beech merges into taller forest. There is a grassy clearing between the hut and the River. Johnson Hut gets around two walk-in parties, per year, usually trampers, and sometimes fishermen. There are around five fly-in parties per year, mainly for trout fishing, and the rest for deer or goat hunting.

Access

The Johnson River is an historic route that linked the benched Wangapeka and Lyell pack tracks. It was used by miners and prospectors initially, then later by hunters. The original blazed tracks were severely damaged by the 1929 earthquake and never repaired to their original standard. By 1979 the track from Piano Creek in the Little Wanganui River over Kiwi Saddle and down the Johnson River was becoming overgrown. It is unlikely that any official track maintenance occured from this time on, although some marking and cutting work has been done by individuals from time to time. The original track is still marked on the 2008 Topo map and can be followed in most places, despite being quite overgrown, however it is generally quicker to make your own route.

The track starts on the TR of Piano Creek just up from its junction with the Little Wanganui River, and is marked with an old routered wooden sign. It climbs up onto the terrace and sidles SE to Kiwi Creek, heading up its TL. The bottom end of the Kiwi has quite a bit of windthrow, most of which can be avoided by sidling on the uphill side. Alternately, continue along the the Wangapeka Track until about 50m West of the Kiwi Creek confluence, then up the Kiwi between two areas of windthrow.

Continue up the TL of Kiwi Creek to a prominent side creek, then cross to the TR. Further up you can either drop into the Creek and continue up it, or cross to the TL. Where things get a bit rougher, cross back and follow the TR to Kiwi Saddle. There is a big rock with "ban the bomb" painted on it just prior to the Saddle and the Saddle has a painted metal sign from NZFS days. A relatively good track heads West from here to a helipad in a clearing, then on up Silver Creek. The clearing is worth a visit for the view.

Continue downvalley from the helipad turnoff, either by following the plastic bag strips through boggy scrub to an old blazed track through the beech forest, or by climbing East and circling above the scrub through open bush and dropping to the track from here. The track crosses from the TL to the TR of Silver Creek at the first big side creek. It is reasonably easy to follow, although rough underfoot in places, and passes an impressive gorge on the way to Fugel Creek. River travel is possible from here for a while where the going is easier. The track is on the TR but not well marked except for a short section around a small gorge that has been permolatted. Below Little Fugel Creek travel is possible on either bank, or via the riverbed, but the track is best avoided on the wet, scrubby flats. The trip from the Little Wanganui roadend to Johnson Hut can be done in 10-16 hours by a fit party, however it would pay to allow two days if you are unfamiliar with the area. Allow 2.5 hours from the roadend to Bell Town Hut, 3.5 hours from here to Kiwi Saddle, another 1.5 hours to Fugel Creek, and four hours from here to Johnson Hut. The Return trip is a bit quicker.

There is a helipad East of the hut on the grassy clearing near the River.

Type

Johnson Hut is an unlined four-bunker with an open fire. It was built in 1957 and is of Nelson Conservancy NZFS design, which predates the NZFS national standard four-bunk design. The Hut materials were air dropped from a Beaver plane. A skylight has been retrofitted at some stage.

Condition

The exterior of Johnson Hut is in quite good condition, however paint is peeling from the window sills. A broken perspex window panel has been boarded over. The interior is plastered with visitors' names dating back to 1967. The interior is functional and sound.

Routes

Johnson Hut is occasionally accessed from the Mokihinui River via the Hemphill River and Johnson Ridge. This is an untracked route that takes around three days from the Mokihinui roadend.Allow one day to Mokihinui Forks and a second fairly long day from the Forks to lakes Phyllis and Marina. From here it is around seven hours up and over Johnson Ridge to the Hut. Dave Pratt relates that, "anyone who wants to try this route should really like subalpine scrub," but that, "the Hemphill River really is a joy, and the feeling of remoteness is second to none."

Johnson Hut can be accessed via the North Branch of the Mokihinui and up the Johnson River, although this is not an easy or particularly safe route. Numerous river crossings are required in the gorge between the confluence of the Johnson and Mokihinui North Branch, and the Mokihinui Forks. At least two crossings are dodgy if river flows are anything above low. Another consists of two deep narrow channels either side of a large rock, requiring a jump to the rock, then another from the rock to the other side. This could be difficult and dangerous with a heavy pack.

Repairs needed

The Window needs replacing and window sills repainting. A hole near the woodbox needs blocking off.

Provisions on site

There are four mattresses, two aluminium basins, a plastic bucket, a broom, a hearth brush and shovel, a small hand saw, an axe, a billy, and a frypan.