New Zealand hut maker Erik Bradshaw is hoping to bring two or three tank huts, or “turks”, into the backcountry of the Remarkables. According to Otago Daily Times, Bradshaw hopes the huts would act as a companion project to the potential extension of The Remarkables ski area into the Doolans Basin. Additionally he believes the huts could serve as a year-round destination for skiing, climbing, hiking, exploring, and more.
Bradshaw recommends that the Mountain Turk Club build and install a 12 to 20-bunk hut in the the Doolans or Wye Creek areas in addition to a single Turk by Lake Hope and another in between. The Turks would sit on Department of Conservation (DoC) stewardship-classified land in the Remarkables Conservation Area.
What Is A Turk Hut?
Turks are are mountain huts designed around the use of a large plastic water tank. The use of this structure avoids many problems associated with construction in high alpine environments like snow and moisture ingress caused by high winds. While strong and rugged enough to withstand the rigors of an alpine environment, the huts remain light enough for a helicopter to easily move.
Several of these huts already exist in remote areas, including three at Cape Adare in Antarctica. The standard design used for the Mahu Whenua Traverse includes double-glazed doors and windows, a false floor of plywood, four comfortable bunks, solar powered lighting, an electric ventilation system, a gas cooking stove with pots, pans, cups, plates, and bowls, and armchair for relaxation, and much more.
Erik Bradshaw of Arrowtown, New Zealand, came up with the idea for the Turks. They serve as a solution to demand for low-cost, temporary shelters that crews can easily drop into the mountains or other remote sites by helicopter.
The Mountain Turk Club
The Mountain Turk Club has around 500 members. They work together to build, install and manage Turks in mountain environments of New Zealand. The club has six total Turks in the mountains between Wanaka and Queenstown. While there are no requirements to become involved in the club, you must be a member to take advantage of the mountain huts.
