Crystal Biv

(Crystal Biv looking out over the Toaroha valley: Photo Andrew Buglass 2004)

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 spur dividing the Pretty and Crystal Creek catchments. It is a serene and beautiful spot with great views out over the Toaroha to Mt. Ross. There is a large picturesque tarn next to the Biv and there is 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 have increased from one every 2-3 years to around three per year since it was profiled on this website.

Access

An old NZFS track up to Crystal Biv from the Toaroha valley, unmaintained for around 40 years, 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. The track is not marked on the topo map, but can be viewed on this map link. It turns-off from the Top Toaroha track at the top of the steep section just upriver from Pretty Creek. Allow 2.5 hours from Cedar Flat Hut to the turnoff and another 1.5 hours up to the Biv. Allow a full day if coming from the Toaroha roadend.

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

Prior to the trackwork Crystal Biv was accessed chiefly over the tops from Yeates Ridge Hut. This route is just as fast as the main valley route and is a great option if conditions are good. Head across the open basin below Yeates Hut onto a rough trail that runs South along a low scrubby ridge bordering Zit Creek. This takes you to the foot of the prominent spur that runs West from the Toaroha Range. A trail (recut in 2010) with intermittent snow-poles goes up through a band of scrub to the open tussock at the 1200m mark. The spur flattens at 1300m and from here you drop down its other main fork in a SW direction to Crystal Biv. The Biv is visible in fine weather from near the top of the fork and it is easy travel down. Allow two hours to get from Yeates Hut to Crystal Biv, or 7-9 hours from the Toaroha roadend.

Type

Cystal is a standard NZFS 1960's two-person design. One of the two original sleeping platforms was removed in 2004 leaving the one at the window end. There are two ancient camp stretchers that are potentially useable. There is no toilet. Water supply is a couple of small tarns closeby.

Condition

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

Routes

Top Kokatahi Hut can be accessed from Crystal Biv via the Toaroha Range. Continue up the spur from where it forks down to Yeates Ridge, to the crest of the Range. Head North along the Range to about E1451479/ N5239437 and drop from here down into the upper Kokatahi River, just upstream of the Hut. Allow 3-4 hours for the crossing.

Adventure Biv can be accessed by heading North along the Toaroha Range to a point North of Zit Saddle around E1451520/ N5240255 where the poled route up from Top Kokatahi crosses over. The poles lead down a steep tussock face on the Toaroha side onto a narrow rib, then down a short tracked section through a band of scrub into the upper TR branch of Zit Creek. Head 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 through the alpine scrub down the ridge to the Biv. Don't try dropping into the Toaroha down Zit Creek 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.

To reach Mungo Hut head South along the Toaraoha Range to Mt. Chamberlin. There are no tarns on this section. A steep pitch on the main ridge South of Chamberlin can be avoided by dropping down onto some rock benches on the Park Stream side and sidling back onto the ridge. Alternately, drop into the head basin of Chamberlin Creek and sidle across the rock screes back onto the ridge. From the low point between Mts. Chamberlin and Banantyne it is possible to drop down a steep scree into the head of Park Stream. It is fairly easy travel down the Park to the short, steep access track (recut by volunteers in 2009) 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.