Distance: 5.5 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 640m to 1254m. Gain: 34m. Loss: 647m . Gradient: 7 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Otehake Hut the track sidles gently up the western valleyside through mossy, open forest to the first major sidecreek, where the tight riverbed opens to riverstone flats and bush ends once and for all. Above the forks, the Otehake emerges from a brief, tight gorge. DOC have been kind enough to use their last triangle to mark the climb up onto terraces above on the western bank, leaving us to figure out our own way back down to the river 50m upstream. The rocks of the riverbed are now more small boulders, the river low enough today to cross easily shin deep – if you choose your spot. Crossing frequently is required through the remaining kilometer of bare rock and scree walls of the gorge. The main riverbed leads up the western side of the valley, to falls draining Lake Sally. The branch draining the Taruahuna Pass flowing underground on the day I visited. Climb to grassed-over scree terraces between the two riverbeds, follow them upvalley until cairns indicate a climb to higher scree flats. A bare scree face looms over the head of the valley; and can be climbed either to the pass itself or on the western flank for those heading to Lake Mavis.