Distance: 2.9 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 989m to 1573m. Gain: 601m. Loss: 17m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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 (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

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

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

Climbing west from the track junction, a broad, well cut and marked tramping track heads up Camp Spur, gaining 400m in 2km through beech forest. Gradient is steady to the bushedge, where it increases. The route is well trodden and well marked above the bushedge, climbing over rock and gravel to the summit of the Kaweka Main Range a further 200m above.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

There are 2 descents to Middle Hill: Ihaka Spur and Camp Spur, camp spur being the northernmost and better maintained. Turning east at 600m NE of Whetu, the poled route losing 200m in half a km to the bushedge on Camp Spur. The track remains excellent throughout – poled above the bushedge, a 2m-wide avenue though the bush below. From the ridgeline the eastern Kawekas appeared to hold nothing but manuka and tussock, but to my surprise the bush is beech – tall, open and easy going. After 2km the track from Makahu joins from the south at a signposted junction.