Distance: 1.9 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1576m to 1721m. Gain: 24m. Loss: 169m . Gradient: 6 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

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

Heading SW from the cairn & memorial atop Kaweka J, the ridgeline continues broad & flat, meandering along the Kaweka tops to reach Mad Dog summit. The route junction for the northern access to Studholme Saddle Hut is signposted & reached 100m south of the 'Mad Dog' summit itself. Although the main Kaweka Range ridgeline is obvious in good weather, a map & compass would be advisable in poor visibility.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

North of Mad Dog Hill the ridgeline becomes almost flat & the route meanders along the Kaweka tops to reach the Kaweka J summit, gaining 100m in 1.5km. The route is poled but often the distance between poles is sufficient to lose sight of them in poor weather. Though the ridgeline is obvious in good weather & navigation is straight forward, a map & compass would be advisable in poor visibility. A large cairn & a memorial to Heretaunga Tramping Club members lost in WWII lies just to the NE of the summit & may provide some shelter.