Distance: 6.4 km (6.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 777m to 1495m. Gain: 403m. Loss: 913m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous 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

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From the track junction, drop gently into a bush saddle before climbing nearly 300m to the open northwest faces of pt. 1522, which the track sidles across in a southwest direction. At the 1380m contour the track leaves the ridge & drops through the bush in a southeast direction, through numerous gullies & crosses two un-named creeks. The gradient becomes gentle when the track hits the valley floor at the 780m contour. It is then a simple 15 minute stroll around the eastern side of the lake to Lake Chalice Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Lake Chalice Hut follow the eastern side of the lake for 15 minutes to the Old Man Track junction on the true right of the stream that head waters originate between pt 1369 & 1522. The climb begins from the 780m contour & gradually climbs to the 1380m contour as the track weaves its way in & out of gullies, crossing two un-named streams in the process. From the 1380m contour climb in a northeast direction to the bushline & sidle across the northwest faces of pt. 1522. The track then drops 260m into a bush saddle, before a gentle climb up to pt. 1309 & the track junction.