Sparrowhawk Bivouac

Sparrowhawk Biviouac (sleeps 2-3, tank water) is one of the nicer biv's in the Ruahine's. The biv is a typical waist-high sleeping-box, with 2 matresses on the floor, and space for 3 at a push (the hut book records that 10 people slept there on one night - figure how!). In addition, a roofed entranceway has been added, where it is possible to stand, cook and eat in comfort. The entranceway has a door but a mud floor, which seems a shame as flooring there is all it would take to convert a basic bivvy good for a night's shelter into a hut comfortable for a longer stay.

The biv lies in a hollow 400m to the east of the main ridge (signposted from the ridge, but no poles mark the route between the signpost and biv - obvious in good visibility, but harder to find in bad weather or at night).

A stone fire-ring outside shows that fires are possible, and leatheleaf bushes abound for firewood - though as the hut itself has no fireplace, no dry firewood is maintained.