Huts

 

Adventure Biv

Adventure Biv

(Adventure Biv looking over Yeates Ridge to the Diedrich Range: Photo Andrew Buglass 2004)

Maintenance Status

Adventure Biv and the Adventure Ridge track have been designated as fully maintain.

Location

Map BV19. Toaroha catchment: GPS Ref: E1450400/ N5240700. Altitude 1020m. Adventure Biv is located on a tussock bench in the alpine scrub zone on Adventure Ridge. The Ridge separates the Median and Zit Creek catchments on the TR of the Toaroha valley and has great views out over the Toaroha valley to the Diedrich Range. Adventure is on the Zit Saddle-Kokatahi-Lathrop Saddle-Styx circuit and is also used by those traversing the Toaroha Range from Pinnacle Biv in the Kokatahi. The Biv also attracts a few day trippers from Cedar Flat Hut down in the Toaroha.

Access

Adventure Biv is easily accessible in a day from the Toaroha roadend for an averagely fit person. The Adventure Ridge turn-off is on the Top Toaroha track, 50 metres upriver from Median Creek, and about 20 minutes from Cedar Flat. The track climbs onto a terrace initially, follows it for a bit, then commences a steep ascent up the Ridge to the Biv. The track is generally well maintained and was last recut in 2009. Allow around two hours to reach the Biv from Cedar Flat, or 5-6 hours from the Toaraoha roadend.

Access to Adventure Biv from from the Kokatahi valley is via the creek draining Zit Saddle 50m downriver from Top Kokatahi Hut. A snow-poled route goes up a gut on the TL in the head of the creek just below a small waterfall. It leads onto a bench on the Toaroha Range North of Zit Saddle, around E1451530/ N5240250. The poles lead from here straight down the steep tussock faces towards the upper TL branch of Zit Creek. The route connects with a narrow rib and at the bottom of this a short section of track takes you through a band of alpine scrub down into the Creek. Cross the Creek and climb up onto its TR bank. From here poles and markers lead across the face through scattered scrub and open tussock patches to Adventure Ridge. There is a short section of cut track down the ridge through the alpine scrub to the Biv. Allow 3 hours from Top Kokatahi Hut to Adventure Biv in good conditions.

Type

Adventure Biv is a standerd two-person NZFS design built in the 1960's. Water supply is from a small roof-fed tank and there is a small, mossed-in tarn just up from the front door of the Biv. Adventure has one wooden sleeping platform at the window end. There are no mattresses and no toilet.

Condition

Adventure is in good condition following DOC maintenance carried out in March 2004. It had its exterior repainted and resealed, the watertank installed, floorboards replaced at the front and rear ends, joists and bearers replaced, some studs replaced, and new tie-downs fitted.

Routes

Mt. Reeves is a fairly straightforward climb from the Biv and the Toaroha Range is traversable both directions from the summit.

To reach Pinnacle Biv climb directly up to flattish bench at the 1500m mark below the summit of Reeves. Climb/ sidle from here in a NE direction onto the crest of the Range North of Mt. Reeves. The ridge drops steeply down to a saddle South of spot height 1618m, then flattens off. There are a couple of steep little knobs as you drop from 1618m towards the low point before Genoa Peak. From here drop in a northerly direction down a series of tussock benches into the small basin at the head of Alice Creek. From here you can climb up around the East face of Crinkletop to the Biv. Allow 5-6 hours to get from Adventure to Pinnacle Biv.

It is relatively easy in good conditions to traverse the Toaroha Range South from Zit Saddle to Crystal Biv, Yeates Ridge, Mungo Hut, or Top Toaroha (see route notes on the relevant hut pages). There are no tarns along the crest of the Range from Zit Saddle South.

Repairs needed

Nil currently.

Provisions on site

A hand brush and shovel, a broom, one billy. There is a 2m length 6x1" plank under the Biv.

 

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