Scottys Biv
(Scottys Biv: Photo Simon Lewis 2005)
Maintenance Status
Scottys is a maintain-by-community project. A group
of Permolat members submitted a maintenance proposal after the Biv was designated
for removal in DOC's 2003/ 4 high-country review. The proposal was accepted and a
contract signed in 2006. The contract expires
in 2016. Visitors to Scottys are encouraged to support our project by carrying out
hut checks and minor repairs
on site and contacting us regarding updates or repairs needed.
Location
Taipo
catchment: Grid Ref: E1470148/ N5259407.
Map BV20. Altitude 1050m. Scottys Biv is located on a
tussock bench in the headwaters of Scottys Creek in the
Taipo valley. Prior to adoption and profiling on the website, Scottys was
only being visited once every
3-5 years. In 2005 a gratifying 10
visits were recorded in the hutbook resulting from the publicity generated. This
has since dropped off again somewhat.
Scottys is in a lovely spot 20 minutes below the crest of the Tara Tama Range,
and there is good tops travel in most directions. A couple of reasonable-sized tarns next
to the Biv provide water and there are views of the Taipo valley and
the impressive northern butresses of Tara Tama. Scottys is a moderate-to-hard overnighter,
or a stopover on longer tops
trips.
Access
The most direct route to Scottys is via an old tops track opposite
to, and 400m downdriver from Seven Mile Creek in the Taipo valley.
A ford of the Taipo is required, which usually reasonable in dry weather.
The main channel is changeable however, and not safe if the river is up.
A cableway above Scottys Creek could be used to cross but is a good hour upriver
and you'd need to boulderhop back down the TL to the track.
The track starts 70m downstream from a small creek just below the
shingle bluffs opposite the old Seven Mile Hut site. It was re-trimmed and re-marked
with permolat and cruise
tape in
May 2005 and should still be reasonably good travel.
The entrance is cairned and marked with
cruise tape. The track cuts back through the bush 100m, crosses the creek,
and climbs steeply up onto the River terrace. It continues up the terrace
at a fairly gentle
gradient for a bit before ascending a steep face connecting with the
ridge at 850m. It follows the ridge to
the tussock passing a disintegrating water drum at 950m. This
is the last reliable water source on the route
until the tops directly above Scottys Biv, so carry plenty with you. From
the tussock line the route continues through scattered scrub to the crest of the
Range.
Follow the crest of the Range traversing three distinct peaks.
There appears to be a good line directly to the Biv
from spot height 1399m, but there are bluffs and
scrub gullies out of sight that slow progress considerably. It is
better to continue down to a flat bench just before Scottys Saddle and drop
directly down to the Biv from there. A fit, experienced party should be able
to reach the Biv in 5-6 hours
from Seven Mile.
Scottys Biv can also be accessed from the Griffin
Creek catchment via the second side creek downriver from
Griffin Creek Hut. It is reasonable travel intially
but gets steeper and more challenging in its upper reaches. There is a waterfall just
before the Creek opens out that has a short section of track through the alpine scrub on
its TR. There is one quite exposed bit where you sidle back into the creek.
From here a straighforward
creek and scree scramble leads up to an unnamed saddle 200m South of
Scottys Saddle. The saddle is cairned, but
not directly visible if approaching along the Range from the North. It
is easier than Scottys Saddle itself, which is steep on the Griffin side
and takes
you into a separate branch of the access creek.
From a bench just North of Scottys Saddle it is an easy drop in an
easterly direction
down a series of
tussock and rock lips to Scottys Biv. Allow 3-3.5 hours to get from Griffin Creek Hut
to Scottys Biv.
Scottys can also be accessed from Rocky Creek Hut by continuing up
Rocky Creek past the turnoff to the saddle over into the Griffin.
The Creek veers SE above this and climbs steeply up the face of the Tara Tama Range.
There are a number of small cataracts
to negotiate, all fairly easy, and the creek eventually peters out on a
steep scree. There is a narrow band of alpine scrub above the top of the scree,
mainly hebe and spaniard, which is not too difficult
to push through. Ascend the steep tussock face above this
onto the crest of the Range. From here it is an easy 20 minute drop in
a SE direction down to the Biv. Allow 2-3 hours
to get from Rocky Creek Hut to Scottys Biv.
Type
Scottys is a standard
NZFS two-person design built in the early 60's by Allan Farmer from Rotorua. Allan has written
a book on his NZFS exploits in the area called "The Best Job Ever," and Scottys gets
a mention in it. The Biv has two
sleeping platforms, but no mattresses. Wire tiedowns have helped keep it in place over
the years. Water supply is from the tarns and a 44 gallon drum next to the Biv.
Condition
Scottys is in good shape currently. In 2004 DOC repainted and resealed it, repaired a
hole in the floor, put a new metal flashing on the doorstep, repaired the window,
and replaced rotting sections of studs, joists and bearers. It must have rained or been damp
when or after they
painted the Biv, because the paint didn't stick well in a few places.
Routes
Newton
Creek Hut is 4-5 hours travel from Scottys Biv. Drop into Newton
Creek from the unnamed saddle between spot heights 1516m and 1751m on the Tara Tama Range.
Travel is easy in the top basin, but further down it steepens and gets rough
and bouldery. It is necessary in a number of places to sidle
through the sub alpine/ montane forest on the TR. The bush is
relatively easy to travel through once you get down into the montane zone.
Dunns Hut can be reached via the Tara Tama
Range and Dunns Saddle. A steep section of ridge between Tara
Tama and Dunns Saddle can be detoured by dropping down a steep scree,
SW off the NW shoulder of the low peak of Tara Tama. When roughly
level with Dunns Saddle sidle back onto the main ridge. It is also possible to
traverse Tara Tama and drop directly down a large open creek that enters Dunns Creek
upstream of the Hut at E1471068/ N5256467. Be aware that this gut is
is an active avalanche chute after heavy snowfalls.
A high-level traverse
is possible to Top Olderog
Biv via the the Tara Tama Range, spot height 1572m
and the upper Wainihinihi River basin. It looks quicker
to go straight up and over Mt. Olson, but the section of ridge between
it and Top Olderog Biv is difficult and unpleasant travel. There are several
vertical bits, one of which is particularly exposed.
There is a route over to the main Taipo valley from Scottys Biv via Tara Tama
and down the long spur running NE towards the Taipo River. This requires a bush-bash at
some point to get you down into the main riverbed.
Scottys Creek looks reasonably benign from the Biv, however John Coll who has
visited Scottys regularly over the decades says his brother tried dropping down the Creek
30 years back, and ended up having a "horrendous" 14-hour scrub bash before reaching the Taipo.
Repairs needed
Some touching up of the paint work will be necessary in the short-medium term.
The u-bolts on the tie-downs need to be denzo taped. Some longer flathead nails
(maybe 1.5cm) are needed in
a couple of spots on the roof where the nails are not holding the flat iron in place.
Provisions on site
A hammer, a tenon saw, a small tube
of sealant, an aluminium bucket and wash basin, two teatowels, a hand
brush and scrubbing brush. Underneath the Biv there is a stack of timber
comprising lengths of 4x2, 6x1, 2x2, bits of the old 4x4 bearer, a couple of
3m lengths of tongue and groove, the old door, and three warratahs.