BACKCOUNTRY TRUST - Supporting Aotearoa's Backcountry Heritage
  • Home
  • Grants
    • Apply
    • Guidelines
    • Claims, Payments and Reporting
    • Resources
  • Projects
    • Latest News
    • Volunteer Projects
    • Kaimahi for Nature Projects
    • Photo Gallery
  • About
    • Booklet
    • History
    • Trustees
    • National Operations Manager
    • North Island Project Manager
    • South Island Project Coordinator
    • DOC
    • Sponsors
    • Donations
    • Performance Report
  • FAQ
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • BCT Owned Huts
    • Mataketake Hut
    • Winchcombe Biv
  • Home
  • Grants
    • Apply
    • Guidelines
    • Claims, Payments and Reporting
    • Resources
  • Projects
    • Latest News
    • Volunteer Projects
    • Kaimahi for Nature Projects
    • Photo Gallery
  • About
    • Booklet
    • History
    • Trustees
    • National Operations Manager
    • North Island Project Manager
    • South Island Project Coordinator
    • DOC
    • Sponsors
    • Donations
    • Performance Report
  • FAQ
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • BCT Owned Huts
    • Mataketake Hut
    • Winchcombe Biv

ELLIS HUT

31/5/2022

 
Kahurangi National Park, Nelson – May 2022
Picture
ellis hut after its may 2022 additions
Nestled under the flanks of Mt Arthur in Kahurangi National Park is Ellis Hut, an important base for cavers, and a welcome haven for trampers too. Last year this great 6-bunk hut got some much needed attention from a Backcountry Trust (BCT) volunteer team of climbers and cavers, which including putting in a new cooking bench and removing of soil and rock under the hut to aid ventilation (see blog April 2021).

​As is often the case, this working bee hatched even bigger plans. The two main goals were to replace the existing open fire with a decent wood-burner, and add a foyer to the hut for use by cavers to hang wet gear. The Ellis Basin is karst country, with several small sink holes visible around the hut, and cavers often return wet and dirty from their explorations.

​The BCT once again funded the cost of materials and transport.
Picture
flying in with Helicopters Nelson
​Ross Cullen reports. ‘So it was that a team led by Greg Pickford and Ross Cullen, with Bruce Davies, Nev West, and local builder Peter Slotemaker, headed into Ellis Basin in late May. Setting a brisk pace in the chilly autumn temperatures, and short daylight hours, the team set out on a big list of tasks.’
Picture
ellis hut team
‘The tasks included: removing the old chimney and fireplace and installing the new wood-burner, fire surround and flue – with a kea excluder. The team added new piles, then built, clad and sealed the new foyer. Seats and hooks were added in foyer for hanging and storing gear.’
Picture
piling
Picture
foyer floor
​‘We repositioned the concrete flagstones at the new entrance, sourced some firewood from the nearby forest, and stacked it in woodshed. The old iron, timber, roof ladder, louvre panes, and paint was stored under hut, rubbish removed and the site given a tidy-up.’
Picture
removing old chimney
Picture
progress on new wood-burner housing and foyer
​‘We managed knock off everything we had set out to achieve, with the exception of the painting – which will have to wait until summer.’
Picture
​‘Huge congratulations to the Nelson Caving group for pulling this one off! Thanks also to DOC’s Tom Young for supporting the project and managing the building consent process, Gowans Walters Architects for preparing plans, Lublow Farm for use of their land as a staging area, and Helicopters Nelson for the chopper logistics.’
Picture
a happy crew with the job done
>Go Back to Project List

Comments are closed.

    Projects

    March 2023
    February 2023
    October 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    March 2019
    January 2019
    June 2018
    March 2018

Quick Links

SUPPORTED BY

Apply for a Grant
Donate to the BCT
View Volunteer Projects
Latest News
Remote Huts Forum and Blog

Picture
Picture
Picture
© BACKCOUNTRY TRUST 2019
Subscribe