Distance: 8.5 km (8.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, hard - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 758m to 2102m. Gain: 1344m. Loss: 918m . Gradient: 16 deg
Skills: Snow / ice (5/7)

Unmarked route, hard (8/9)
Unmarked route, no clear geographic features to follow

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Unknown (difficulty: 0/5)
Not specified

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

Snow / ice (difficulty: 5/7)
Scramble with snow/ice sections, ice axe & crampons required

Unknown (difficulty: 0/6)
Not specified

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Moir's guide provides a good description of the route to Douglas Pass and over The Gladiator, past Mt Howitt and the descent to Christmas Flat. In the mist, the GPS was useful on the descent. There were rough tracks through the scrub past large rocks to reach the Karangarua River proper.