Scotts Rock Bivvy - Remote Backcountry Shelters on Waymarking.com

Scotts Rock Bivvy is merely a shelter that one would use in desparation as oppossed to planning a trip to stay in it. If you plan to visit this site - then TAKE A TENT. Located at the head of the West Branch of the Matukituki River Valley this lean-to type structure is accessed after a walk of many hours starting from the Raspberry Flat car park. It is worth mentioning that vehicles left at Raspberry Flat have semi-frequently been broken into so don't leave valuables in the vehicle. The walk to the head of the valley starts through Pastoral Lease Land and eventually enters the Mount Aspiring National Park somewhere between the Cascade Hut and Aspiring Hut. I personally found this whole part of the hike to be fairly arduous and a bit boring but is relatively easy with no steep gradient to tackle. The only aside being the view of the Rob Roy Glacier on the true left on the way up. Carrying on through Shovel Flat and then Pearl Flat you will then cross over the Mt Barff avalanche shute at which time some upward humping has well and truely been done. The steepness is not as labourious as the length of the gradient which continues up into the head of the valley. Along the way you will see sign posted the diversion tracks to Liverpool Bivvy on the true right and also French Ridge Hut on the true Left of the valley. Here after there is not a screaming heap of people that visit this area - namely just climbers and a few Hunters after Chamois. You will be walking through Beech Forest as well until you hit the Sub Alpine zone toward the head of the valley. The track up here is marked reasonably along the way. Once you enter the Sub-alpine zone and are in Alpine scrub of semi openess you will then be directed to Scotts Rock with the help of occassional man-made rock piles. The Rock Bivvy is close at hand. Once you get there and see the Bivvy you will realise the reason I say you need a tent. Scotts Rock Bivvy is merely a large boulder that has a cavity open on its east side and the ground has been scrapped out to form a hollow then slated rocks built up on the open side creating a wall or windbreak of sorts with an opening left for an entrance. It is ok to cook under but sleeping under would be ok if you were hard pressed with room for 2 or 3 if you had to on the dirt floor. In the cold (as it was when I was there) it is absolutely miserable and the freezing wind cutting down off the snowy tops from the surrounding Mountains can make for an awful stay and be dangerous in terms of exposure, frost-bite and hypothermia. The rock wall built against the side quells the air flow only a little. It is high enough here and can be cold enough that Butane/Propane gas cookers will not work so it is advisable to have a white spirit cooker for this journey. I have not been there in the height of summer but I understand that Rats tend to favour the place at this time as well. Water can be sourced from the stream a few yards below and I would advocate sensible defacation needs away from the stream and away from any side stream and certainly not around the Bivvy. It is a fairly short walk from here to the cirque at the head of the valley. Lots of New Zealands Native Parrot - the Kea, here so guard your tent and belongings against these destructive little mischief makers. But having these birds fly directly at the tent and hitting the sides so they can skid down it is certainly hilarious when it is someone elses tent I have to admit. Quite a photogenic place to visit this as well.

Type of shelter: lean-to Sleeps How Many: 3 Reservation required: No Cost: Free Enclosed: Open Available Year Round: Not listed Stay overnight: Not listed

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