Distance: 0.9 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1573m to 1618m. Gain: 45m. Loss: 43m . Gradient: 6 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

From the top of Ihaka Spour, the main range runs NNW, crossing a gentle saddle and climbing again to Whetu highpoint. The track junction for Ballard / Venison Top is signposted 100m SW of the summit.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Heading south along the main range, the poled route falls then rises 80m with the ridgeline as it crosses a gentle saddle to pt1638. 500m before the summit, where the main range swings SW, a track junction is reached with Ihaka Spur joins from the east - providing a route down to Middle Hill.