Price Basin Hut

(Price Basin Hut: Photo Warren Chinn 2004)

Maintenance Status

Price Basin Hut is designated as fully maintain because of its perceived value as a potential base for Himalayan Tahr control operations. Price Basin is purportedly around the creatures northern limit.

Location

Whitcombe catchment. Map BW18. Grid Ref: E1434362/ N5222640. Altitude 1060m. Price Basin Hut is located in a hanging basin in the upper TR branch of the Price River, one of the larger tributaries of the Whitcombe. The Hut site is 50m from the River between two small side creeks. Price Basin backs on to the Lange Range and Pahlow Ridge, a spectacular and rugged setting. Below the Hut the river drops over a large waterfall and down through an impassable gorge to the Whitcombe valley. All access routes to the basin are via the tops and fairly challenging. The Hut is a good three-day's walk from the roadend and visits are irregular, a couple a year at most, with gaps of 2-3 years not uncommon.

Access

The main valley tracks in the Whitcombe are well maintained, however there are several large unbridged sidecreeks that would hinder travel after heavy rain. Allow two days from the roadend to Wilkinson Hut. From here head back downriver on the TL to Pahlow Creek, the second big side creek (unnamed on the map). An old NZFS track on this stretch is pretty much gone, so stick to the River where possible if you want to minimise the bush-bashing. It possible sometimes, mostly winter when river levels are very low, to ford the Whitcombe from the main valley track opposite, or near Pahlow Creek. This would obviate the need to go all the way up to Wilkinson Hut and back down the TL. Mostly however, this is not possible or safe.

Head up Pahlow Creek taking the TL branch at each of two forks. Exit near the head of the Creek on the TL and sidle NE along an obvious tussock bench under the faces of Mt. Van Redan towards Johanson Peak. A scree slope at around E1435862/ N5222427 provides access up onto Phalow Ridge, which is followed up to around the 1500m contour. Sidle off the Ridge here around into Prices basin, making sure there is a good line of sight down to the Hut. The faces leading down into the basin are not steep, but are rough and rocky underfoot, with scattered large boulders. Allow 6-8 hours from Wilkinson Hut to Price Basin Hut.

Type

Price Basin Hut is a pretty-much unmodified, NZFS four-bunk design built in the 1960's. It is unlined and has an old NZFS kerosine cooker. Water is from the creek next to it. There is no toilet.

Condition

DOC repainted and resealed Prices over the Summer of 2003/4. The Hut was in good condition at last report, which was a few years back.

Routes

There is a good high-level crossing from Prices Basin over to Ivory Lake Hut via the Lange Range, which is done semi-regulalry by more experienced parties. The Lange Range is accessed up the prominent side-spur that runs SW from Mt. Wylde Brown to point 2056m. The spur is mostly easy travel. A rock buttress near the top can be sidled around on its South side. From point 2056m drop directly down towards the Southern end of Ivory Lake. The Hut is visible most of the way down in clear conditions. In high summer and autumn the crossing is mostly snow-free, apart from a small patch on the crest of the Range. Ice axes and crampons need to be carried at other times. Allow 4-5 hours from Hut to Hut, although this will vary according to snow conditions.

A high traverse is possible from Price Basin Hut to the Cropp Basin. This is by no means straightforward or easy. Traverse Mt. Wylde Brown and scrub-bash from its summit down to the lip of the TL basin. Access from here onto The Rotunda is up some very steep faces with a lot of rotten, unstable rock. Care is required on this bit. Once on the Cropp Brow it's very easy going and there are several routes down into the Cropp basin. Alternately, continue down to Steadman Brow where a maintained tops track takes you down to just below Price Flat in the Whitcombe. DOC recut this in 2010.

It is relatively easy ridge access from Price Basin up onto to Mt. Thorndike. There are great views of the Wilkinson Ice Lake, Mt. Evans and the Bracken Snowfield. from here

Repairs needed

None at last report.

Provisions on Site

A grubber, two Shovels, a spare shovel handle, a wash basin, two billies, and a broom.