Crystal Biv

(Crystal Biv looking over to the Diedrich Range: Photo Andrew Buglass 2006)

Maintenance Status

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

Location

Map BV19. Toaroha catchment. Grid Ref: E1449410/ N5237943. Altitude 1070m. Crystal Biv is located the spur dividing the Pretty and Crystal Creek catchments of the Toaroha valley. It is a serene and beautiful spot with great views and easy access to the Toaroha Tops. One large and several small tarns provide fresh water for drinking and bathing. Crystal is not frequently visited despite being accessible in a longish day from the roadend. Visits have increased from one every 2-3 years to around three per year since the Biv was profiled on the website.

Access

An old NZFS track up to Crystal Biv from the Toaroha valley, unmaintained for around 40 years, had just about vanished back into the bush when Permolat volunteers started recutting it in 2008. The last, short section at the top was finished in 2010 and the track is now in good condition. It is not marked on the current topo map but can be viewed on this map link. The turn-off is at the top of a steep section on the Top Toaroha track just upriver from Pretty Creek. Allow 2.5 hours from Cedar Flat Hut to the Crystal turnoff and 1.5 hours from there up to the Biv. Add another 3 hours if coming from the Toaroha roadend. The top end of the track can be picked up from the Biv by following cruise tape attached to scattered dracophyllum, sidling down at a bearing of roughly 250 degrees. The track entrance is on a scrubby bench NW of the Biv at around E1449240/ N5237930.

Prior to the recent trackwork Crystal Biv was usually accessed from the tops via Yeates Ridge Hut. This route is still probably just as fast as the main valley track, and on a fine day is a great way to come. From Yeates a prominent side spur running West off the Range is accessed via the open basin below the Hut and a low scrubby ridge bordering the Zit Creek catchment. Follow the cut trail along the ridge to the scrub covered face at the foot of the spur. Intermittent snow-poles lead up through the scrub belt with a gap in the poling around the 1200m mark. A short uphill scrub-bash is neccessary to reach the tussock just below where the spur flattens out. A side spur runs from here in a SW direction towards Crystal Biv, which is visible in fine weather. It is easy travel down the ridge with a bit of scattered scrub to negotiate just above the tarn. Allow 1.5 - 2 hours to get from Yeates to Crystal or 7-9 hours from the Toaroha roadend.

Type

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

Condition

Crystal had its exterior painted and resealed, and a number of wall studs and dwangs and a section of floor replaced in the summer of 2003/4 by DOC. Water is still getting in at the rear end of the Biv somewhere and the studs, floor plate and ends of some of the floorboards under the window are rotting. Another explanation for the water may be melt from the snowdrifts that build up behind the Biv in the winter.

Routes

Crystal Biv can be accessed from Top Toaroha Hut via a tussock knoll above Bannatyne Flat and the Crystal Creek basin. An unavoidable scrub bash dropping from the knob into the basin can be minimised by picking the right line. Allow 2.5-3 hours from Top Toaroha to Crystal Biv.

The Toaroha Range is easily accessible from the Biv with relatively easy tops travel in good weather. The tops are generally snow free by late summer, but not always. Crystal is a potential stopover on high-level trips to Top Kokatahi Hut, Adventure Biv, and Mungo Hut (see route notes from relevant hut-pages).

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.