Wilkinson Hut
(Wilkinson Hut: Photo DOC 2003/ 4)
Maintenance Status
Wilkinson Hut is designated as minimal
maintenance.
Location
Whitcombe
catchment: Grid Ref: E1436568/ N5219830.
Map BW18. Altitude 605m. Wilkinson Hut is located at the upstream end of a river flat on
the TL of the Whitcombe River, between Price Flat and Neave
Creek Huts. The flat is regenerating, mostly small dense hardwoods now with the odd grassy patch.
Access from the main valley track on the TR is via a swingbridge 10 minutes upstream from the Hut.
Wilkinson is small and dim (cosy
with the fire going), a relic of the
deer culling days. Many a forehead has been dented on the low
door frame over the years.
The Hut gets some use by those doing the Whitcombe Pass
crossing, and less frequently by those heading to Price Basin Hut, or the
untracked Wilkinson River and Bracken Snowfield.
Access
Wilkinson Hut is 1.5 -2 day's travel from either side of the Divide.
DOC fully maintains the Whitcombe circuit and huts and
tracks are generally in good nick.
There is ongoing slippage in the gorge sections between Wilkinson, Price Flat and Frews huts
that is to stay on top of, and it appears that the tracked sections between
Neave Hut and Whitcombe Pass have been let go. It's now neccessary to follow the river up
this bit.
The Cataract Creek swingbridge above Price Flat was washed out in early 2009
and can be forded in dry weather only currently. DOC will replace the bridge at some point.
It currently takes around three hours to get up to Wilkinson Hut from Prices Flat Hut,
or 1.5 hours if coming down from Neave Creek Hut.
Type
The original Wilkinson Hut
was built in the winter of 1957 by Ron Turner and Bill Radumski of the NZFS.
Some of the timber was damaged in the airdrop and Ron fashioned an adze
from an old mattock and used squared totara poles for the bunk uprights. The porch
and corrugated iron roof were added later. Wilkinson has an
open fire and is unlined. There is a toilet and
the water supply is from the River.
Condition
Wilkinson is in good condition, was repainted,
resealed, and had floor and chimney work done by DOC over the summer of 2003/ 4.
Routes
To get from Wilkinson to Price Basin Hut
head down the TL of the Whitcombe to Pahlow Creek. This is not named on the maps, but is
the second big side creek downstream. An
old track down this side is so overgrown that it's easier to boulderhop where possible
(allow 2 hours down to Pahlow).
Head up Pahlow Creek taking the TL branch at each of two consecutive forks. Exit the Creek
at a sloping tussock bench just under the bluffy faces of Mt. Van Redan. Follow along this
in a NE direction to around E1435855/ N5222464 where there is access up a scree onto
Pahlow Ridge.
Follow the ridge up to around the 1500m level and then sidle due West into
Price Basin. Drop down a broad tussock face strewn with jumbled boulders to the River. Good
visibilty is required for the tops section of this route
(allow 6-8 hours from Wilkinson Hut to Price Basin Hut).
Access to the Mt. Thorndike tops from Wilkinson Hut is via the first side creek
down the TL of the Whitcombe. Follow the creek up and ascend a large slip
that comes in on the TR. This gives reasonable access to a tussock bench on the ridge at
spot height 1036m. There is a band of alpine scrub before the open tops are reached. There are
stunning views of Mt. Evans, the Bracken Snowfield, and the Wilkinson from here.
The Wilkinson valley can be accessed up the TL of the Whitcombe from from Wilkinson Hut.
This is rugged and challenging country even on a good day.
There are three bouldery bluffs to get around between the swingbridge and the
Wilkinson confluence, all with thick scrub and a dash of bush lawyer. Head up the TL
of the Wilkinson. It's rough and swift, with slippery boulders, and freezing opaque
water. The Wilkinson is difficult to ford in spring and summer due to ice melt, and river
levels can rise considerably over the day.
There are numerous large boulders to negotiate and the scrub around them is unforgiving.
It is probably slightly easier to sidle through the montane forest
on the river terraces rather than boulderhop, particularly if you can pick up a deer trail.
Above Walcott Creek there is a steep cascade with large, jumbled boulders
to negotiate, again with thick scrub surrounds. It is possible to ford Seddon Creek
above the cascade, then sidle back into the Wilkinson through the alpine scrub.
This last stretch is more level and easier to cross and recross, although the rocks are very
slippery. A half hour should get you from the Seddon confluence to the superb and spectacular
Wilkinson ice lake. Framed by the sheer rock walls of Mt. Evans,
the lake is a serene mirror with small icebergs. The stillness is regularly broken by
the crackle and roar of ice avalanching
off the Bracken Snowfield.
From the Lake it is relatively easy to cross
the low saddle behind Agfa Knob back over into the Seddon. There is another large boulder cascade
just upstream from here. This is also rough going, but easier to negotiate on the TL.
The Bevernage Rock Bivs are on the TR at the top of the cascade. It's a tricky
river crossing back over to the TR and a short scrub bash up to them. Frankly they're
a bit of a disappointment and would take two people at a squeeze
under a low shallow overhang. There is a more spacious rock biv back down the river, 15 minutes
up Walcott Creek. Above the rock bivs the Seddon becomes
much easier going and travel is possible to the foot
of Seddon Col. The creek draining McKenzie Col comes in on the TR of the Seddon, turning in to
rock and avalanche debris a short distance further up. Allow a full day (around 8 hours walking)
for this circuit.
Repairs needed
None currently.
Provisions on site
Five litres of Lichen paint, an axe (blunt), two hearth shovels, a broom, an adze, a hearth brush, a shovel,
a small camp oven, a billy (no lid) and a small pot. There is a roll of swingbridge cable under the Hut.