Distance: 11.3 km (8.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 767m to 1241m. Gain: 412m. Loss: 482m . Gradient: 5 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Neave Hut, follow the now small creek-bed of the Whitcombe and adjacent tussock flats upriver. Going is scrubby at first but soon clears. The valley keeps a steady gradient all the way to the low pass at the Louper Saddle.

Descent of the Louper is steeper, with one section of waterfalls easily passed on the true left. From the base of the falls it’s an easy walk down the creekbed to the Raikaia. Louper Biv is 1km downriver on flats at the foot of the northern valley face. Those crossing to Reischek are advised to drop to Louper Biv first for a good braided crossing of the river.