Tuke Hut
(Tuke Hut looking up valley: Photo Andrew Buglass 2005)
Maintenance Status
Tuke Hut and the tracked sections of the Tuke valley are designated as fully maintain.
Location
Mikonui
catchment. Map BV18. Grid Ref: E1428202/ N5227064.
Altitude 1000m. Tuke Hut is located in the head basin
of the Tuke River, a tributary of the
Mikonui River. It is a beautiful, rugged spot,
ringed by the peaks of Galena and Dickie Ridges. Downriver from the basin the valley
is spectacularly
gorged and impassable with large waterfalls. Tuke Hut is not frequently visited and access to it
via the tops only. This is usually from Dickie
Spur Hut, but also over Galena Ridge, or from the head of the Waitaha.
Access
The most direct access
to Tuke Hut is from the Mikonui valley and Dickie
Spur Hut via Dickie Ridge. From Dickie Spur Hut follow the Mikonui Flat route
back up onto Dickie Ridge. Head uphill from the turn-off over point 1326m to the saddle at 1296m.
Drop directly from here
down some steep tussock ribs into
the creek catchment below. Follow the creek down
to just above where it tumbles over into the Tuke Gorge. A track exits here on the TR,
sidles upriver across a small
side creek and into the Tuke riverbed at the top entrance of
the gorge. This bit was recut in 2007.
The route from here to the Hut is mostly river travel, straightforward
at normal flows. The odd bouldery section needs skirting and some
judicious fording of the river will optimise travel.
A couple of crossings marked with orange triangles corresponding with short sections of track were established in 2007.
These are not particularly well placed and don't necessarily provide the easiest line of
travel. A small gorge 20
minutes below the Hut has a track around its TL. The route re-enters the riverbed for the remainder
of the journey and there is a track of sorts up to the Hut from
the River, starting in a small creek just upstream from the Hut site. It is not well marked.
Tuke Hut is visible from many points on the journey, so is not difficult to locate in fine weather.
Allow 3-4 hours travel from
Dickie Spur Hut, or 9-10 hours from the Mikonui road end, to reach Top Tuke.
While it is possible to drop almost drictly down to Top Tuke Hut from Dickie Ridge, the faces above
it are very steep with numerous bluffs. Finding a safe line down when coming from above
could be tricky. Dickie Ridge is a long plod in any case and doesn't provide any time advantage over the valley route.
Type
Tuke Hut is a standard
NZFS 4-bunk design built in the 1960's. It was lined at some point.
There is no toilet, and water is from
a small creek adjacent to the Hut. There is some
NIWA equipment on site, and choppers fly in occasionally to measure the rain gauge there.
Condition
DOC repainted and resealed Tuke Hut and carried out
some minor repairs in 2004. It is in good condition currently. It has a healthy population
of mice.
Routes
There is a good alpine route from Top Tuke over point 1870m and
down the ridge on the TR of Ivory Lake to Ivory Lake Hut. This would take 4-5
hours in good conditions.
Top Waitaha Hut can be accessed over the Tusk and Ragged Peak.
The Tusk can be accesed up a series of diagonal
benches through the bluffs opposite Tuke Hut. Traverse The Tusk and
Ragged Peak and descend to into the Top Waitaha basin down the prominent
spur on the TR of Watson Creek.
Allow 4-5 hours for the journey from Hut to Hut.
There is a fairly popular alpine route from Tuke Hut
to Healey Spur Hut via Galena Ridge. Access to
the Galena Ridge is via a long
spur that runs from behind Tuke Hut up to point 1974m. The route
goes up the
steep rib on the TR
of the creek with the waterfall, just upstream from the Hut.
A small notch in the band of bluffs at the top of the rib
(around E1428665/ N5227080) provides access into
the tussock basin above the fall. Continue up the basin
to where the creek veers right. Exit on the TR here and pick a route
up the tussock faces onto the spur, then follow this up onto Galena Ridge.
There is one short, steep
eroded section near the top, but nothing technical. Galena Ridge is easy travel all the
way to Remarkable Peak in good conditions.
Access down onto Healey Spur is via a steep rib composed of loose rock and scree.
The dip in Healey Spur is followed by a short razor-backed section, which can be traversed with care.
This can be avoided by dropping onto a sloping bench
on the Healey Creek side of the Spur and sidling from here towards the Hut, which is visible in fine conditions.
A deep
slot just before the Hut necessitates a climb back up to around the 1500m contour
on the Spur. Allow 5-6 hours from Tuke Hut to Healey Spur Hut.
Mt. Beaumont is an easy climb from the head of the Tuke. In 2007 a trail was cut through the scrub and
a couple of snow poles were positioned to aid access to its leading ridge.
From Beaumont it is possible to cross into the Whitcombe
valley via The Rotunda, Cropp Brow and Steadman Brow. A maintained tops track that leads from
Steadman
Brow down to Price Flat in the Whitcombe valley was recut in 2010.
Allow 6-7 hours for the crossing in good conditons.
The alpine routes in and out of
Top Tuke are generally snow covered from winter through to early summer.
The snow tends can burn off in most places by late
summer and the tops may remain bare (aside from a few patches of permanent snow and
glacial remnants) into late autumn. Extreme weather and snow
can occur at any time of year. Ice axes are recommended for crossings with snow, and crampons may be neccessary
during the colder months in a few places.
Repairs needed
Nil currently.
Provisions on Site
One slasher, two flat files, a broom,
an aluminium wash basin, two billies, a hand broom
and hearth shovel, a scrubbing brush, candles, and two spare louvre panes.
