Crystal Biv

(Crystal Biv looking out over the Toaroha valley: Photo Andrew Buglass 2004: Double click to get larger image)

Maintenance Status

Crystal Biv has been designated as minimal maintenance. An old unmaintained NZFS track up to the Biv from the Toaroha valley was recut and marked by Permolat volunteers in 2009 and 10.

Location

Toaroha valley. Map BV19. Grid Ref: E1449410/ N5237943. Altitude 1070m. Crystal Biv is located on the dividing spur between the Pretty and Crystal Creek catchments. It is a serene and beautiful spot with great views out over the Toaroha valley. There is a large picturesque tarn next to the Biv and easy access to the Toaroha Tops from here. Crystal is not frequently visited despite being accessible in a longish day from the Toaroha roadend. Visits increased from one every 2-3 years to around three per year after Crystal was profiled on this website, and possibly more since the track was recut.

Access

An old NZFS track up to Crystal Biv from the Toaroha valley was unmaintained for nigh on 40 years and had pretty much vanished back into the bush when Permolat volunteers began recutting it in 2009. The last section was finished in 2010 and the track is now in good condition. It is not marked on the topo map, but can be viewed on this map link. The track turns-off from the Top Toaroha track at the top of a steep section that climbs out of Pretty Creek. Allow 2.5 hours from Cedar Flat Hut to the turnoff and another 1.5 hours up to the Biv. Allow 8-10 hours if coming from the Toaroha roadend.

The track can be picked up at its top end by following cruise tape on scattered dracophyllum down and across the tussock faces from the Biv, at a bearing of roughly 250 degrees. The track entrance is on a scrubby bench NW of the Biv at around E1449240/ N5237930.

Before the track was cut Crystal Biv was usually accessed over the tops from Yeats Ridge Hut. This route isn't a great deal longer than the main valley one if conditions are good, and has a excellent views. From Yeats Hut cross the open basin below it to the low scrubby ridge bordering Zit Creek. A rough trail leads along this through patchy scrub to a face at the foot of the main spur leading to the Toaroha Range. A trail recut in 2010 and marked with intermittent snow-poles goes up through a band of scrub here to the open tussock at the 1200m mark. The spur flattens at 1300m and meets the fork that comes up from the Crystal Biv side. The Biv is visible in fine weather from near the top of the fork and it is easy travel down in a SE direction. Allow two hours to get from Yeats Hut to Crystal Biv, or 7-9 hours from the Toaroha roadend.

Type

Cystal is a NZFS B55 two-person design with corrugated iron roof and louvre window built in 1964. A sleeping platform along the side was removed in 2004 leaving one at the window end. There are two ancient camp stretchers that may still be serviceable. Water is from the main tarn or some smaller ones tarns closeby. There is no toilet.

Condition

DOC painted and sealed the Biv and replaced some of the studs, dwangs and floorboards in the summer of 2003/4. Water is getting in at the window end of the Biv and the studs, floor plate and ends of some of the floorboards are rotting here. This may be snow melt from the drifts that build up behind the Biv in the winter, rather than rain.

Other Routes

Top Kokatahi Hut can be accessed from Crystal Biv over the Toaroha Range. Continue up the spur from the Yeats Ridge turnoff to the crest of the Range and Head North to a point around about E1451479/ N5239437. Drop down the tussock faces here down into the upper Kokatahi, entering the riverbed just upstream of the Hut. An ice axe may be necessary on this section if snow covered and icy. Allow 3-4 hours for the crossing.

Adventure Biv can be accessed by heading North along the Toaroha Range. Continue past Zit Saddle and up a step in the Range to where the poled route from Top Kokatahi crosses over (around E1451380/ N5240035). The poles lead down a steep tussock face on the Toaroha side to a narrow rib. Just after the rib flattens and widens there is a short tracked section down through a band of alpine scrub into the upper TR branch of Zit Creek. Cross here, climb up onto the TR bank of the Creek, and follow a rough trail through scattered scrub across the face to Adventure Ridge. A short section of track leads down the ridge through the alpine scrub to the Biv. Don't drop into the Toaroha directly from Zit Saddle unless you have a rope and a spare day up your sleeve. Allow 5-6 hours for the trip from Crystal to Adventure Biv.

Mungo Hut can't be accessed by heading South along the Toaraoha Range to Mt. Chamberlin. There are no tarns on this section so carry some water. A steep pitch on the ridge South of Chamberlin can be avoided by sidling around 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 gut into the head of Park Stream. The top of the gut is snow-filled for most of the year and can be tricky (if hard) near the top without an ice axe. It is fairly easy travel down the Park to the short, steep access track (recut by volunteers in 2012) leading from the Stream up to Mungo Hut. Allow 5-6 hours from Crystal Biv to Mungo Hut.

There is a tops route from Crystal Biv to Top Toaroha Hut via Crystal Creek basin and the tussock knoll above Bannatyne Flat. Head from the Biv up the spur above the tarn to just above the 1100m contour, then drop down the steep tussock faces into Crystal basin. There is an unavoidable scrub bash getting from the basin up to the tussock line on the Spur above Chamberlin Creek, which can be minimised by picking the right line. Once in the clear, head down the spur as it curves SE, to around the 1100m contour. You should be looking directly down on Top Toaroha Hut by this stage. Drop due South down through the alpine scrub. Hopefully you'll be able to pick up a dry gut that provides a pretty easy passage through the scrub and down to the flat. Allow around two hours to get from Crystal Biv to Top Toaroha Hut.

Repairs needed

Some of the studs, a section of the bottom plate, and the end sections of a couple of the floorboards on the end wall need replacing. The sleeping platform could do with an extra support where it meets the southern wall.

Provisions on site

One plastic bucket, one aluminium wash basin, two camp stretchers and a shovel head. Underneath the Biv are a few 2.5m lengths of 4x2, some odds and sodds of timber and a roll of No.8 wire. I left a hammer, a folding pruning saw, some permolat, and some large and small nails there in 2008.