Adventure Biv
(Adventure Biv looking over to Yeates Ridge and the Diedrich Range: Photo Andrew Buglass 2004: Double click to get larger image)
Maintenance Status
Adventure Biv is a fully-maintain Biv. The track up to it from the Toaroha valley and
a poled route over from the head of the Kokatahi valley are also fully maintained.
Location
Toaroha catchment. Map BV19. GPS Ref:
E1450400/ N5240700. Altitude
1020m. Adventure Biv is located on a tussock
bench in the alpine scrub zone on the Toaroha Range. Adventure Ridge separates
the Median and Zit
Creek catchments and there are great views
over from the Biv out over the Toaroha valley. Adventure Biv is on the
Zit Saddle - Lathrop Saddle circuit. It is also regularly used on a traverse of the Toaroha Range
from Pinnacle Biv in the
Kokatahi. In addition the Biv attracts a stream od day-trippers, and the odd overnighter, from Cedar Flat Hut down in the
Toaroha valley.
Access
Adventure Biv is accessible
in a day from the Toaroha roadend for
an averagely fit person. The turn-off to Adventure Ridge is 50 metres
up the Toaroha valley track from Median Creek, and about 20 minutes from Cedar Flat Hut.
The track leaves the River and climbs steeply up onto a terrace which follows it for a bit before
turning up Adventure Ridge. The Ridge section up to the Biv is also steep going. DOC
gave the track a trim in February 2012.
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 is via a poled route over the Toaroha Range.
The route goes up the creek that drains Zit Saddle, beginning
50m downriver
from Top Kokatahi Hut.
The poles lead up
onto a bench on the crest of the Toaroha Range North of Zit Saddle (around E1451380/ N5240035) and from here
straight down some steep tussock faces into the upper TR catchment of Zit Creek.
Further down the route follows a narrow rib onto a flatter area, then drops down
through a band of alpine scrub into the creekbed. The route exits the Creek directly opposite on its TR and
sidles through scattered scrub and open tussock patches to Adventure Ridge.
This bit is only lightly marked and poled, and requires a bit of care to stay on.
A short section of cut track takes you down Adventure
Ridge through a band of
alpine scrub to the Biv. Allow 3-4 hours from Top Kokatahi Hut to Adventure Biv in good conditions. Ice axes
may be required on odd occasions in winter and spring on the steeper pitches near the top of the Range.
Type
Adventure Biv is a two-person NZFS
B55 design with corrugated iron roof a single louvre window, built in 1964. A small roof-fed water tank was
installed in 2004. There is a small, mossed-over tarn just up
the slope from the front door as back-up. The Biv intially had two wooden sleeping platform. The
one along the side was removed in 2004. There are no mattresses or toilet.
Condition
Adventure Biv is in good condition. DOC rennovated it in 2004. This included
painting and resealing, the replacement of floorboards
at the front and rear ends, along with of some of the joists, bearers, and internal framing.
New tie-downs were also fitted.
Routes
Mt. Reeves is a fairly straightforward climb directly up from the
Biv and the Toaroha Range is easily traversable in both directions from its summit.
The route to Pinnacle Biv is via Mt. Reeves, although it
isn't neccessary to go all the way to the summit. A bench at the 1500m contour provides a good
sidle in a NE direction onto the crest of the Range North of Reeves. A steep drop follows
down to a saddle South of
spot height 1618m where the Range flattens a bit. A narrow section follows with are a couple of
small aretes that need
sidling around. Continue down to a low point South of Genoa Peak where there are two route options.
The first is to drop
in a northerly direction down a series of tussock benches into the small basin at the head of Alice Creek, and
limb up onto Crinkletop from there. The second is to continue along to Genoa Peak and then drop
the main spur to Crinkletop. There are some nice tarns just before Genoa Peak. The Biv is on the southern lee of
Crinkletop.
Allow 5-6 hours to get from Adventure Biv to Pinnacle Biv.
A number of destinations are possible when traverse the Toaroha Range
in a southerly direction from Zit Saddle.
A
prominent spur that runs West from the Range provides access to
Crystal Biv and Yeats Ridge.
The spur flattens and forks at the 1300m contour. The NW fork takes you down to Yeats Ridge Hut and
a trail has been cut down through a band of scrub, marked with intermittent cruise tape and two or three snow poles.
At the bottom of the scrubby face poles lead westward through scattered scrub and open tussock patches
onto a low ridge bounding Zit Creek. There is a track through the scrubby bits here.
Wooden stakes lead from the ridge across a shallow peaty basin to the Hut, which is clearly visible in fine conditions from
most points on the route.
Crystal Biv is accessed down the SW fork of the spur
is taken. The Biv is visible in fine weather from near the top of the spur and it is
easy, open travel down to it. There is a bit of scattered scrub to negotiate
just above the big tarn. Allow 4-5 hours from Adventure Biv to Yeats, or Crystal.
Top Toaroha Hut
can be reached by traversing the Toaroha Range and dropping into
the Chamberlin Creek Basin. Sidle out at the basin's lip
just above the waterfall and across the
western faces of Mt. Bannatyne to an obvious open side creek. Drop down this
onto Bannatyne Flat. Allow 5-6 hours for the traverse in good conditions.
To reach Mungo Hut head South along the
Toaraoha Range to Mt. Chamberlin.
A steep pitch South of Chamberlin can be
avoided by dropping down onto some rock benches on the Park Stream side,
or dropping into
the head basin of Chamberlin Creek.
From the low point between Mts. Chamberlin and Banantyne it is possible to drop down a
steep scree into Park Stream. The top of the gut is snow-filled for most of the
year and could be tricky if icy near the top, without an ice axe.
It is easy travel down the Park to the start of
a track on the TL recut by volunteers in 2012. This climbs steeply for 5-10 minutes
up onto the bench where Mungo Hut is located. Allow 6-7 hours from Adventure Biv to Mungo Hut.
Repairs needed
Nil currently.
Provisions
On Site
A hand brush and shovel, a broom, and a billy. There is a 2m length 6x1" plank under the Biv.
