Distance: 4.0 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1099m to 1479m. Gain: 554m. Loss: 309m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate)
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 (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

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

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

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the form in the main range, continue NNW over pt1503 (a 100x100m round lump 20m higher than the surrounding flat tops). Continue another 200m on a bearing of 320 degrees to reach a signpost pointing WNW towards Potae (Ruahine Corner Hut). From here head WNW and pick up the side-spur dropping in that direction. It all requires good compass skills in bad weather on these featureless tops.

Soon the spur becomes well defined and enters leatherwood through a well travelled, well cut track (2018). The track drops and climbs repeatedly through beech forest for 2km, before crossing a small stream, climbing and sidling a bit, then making a final steep climb to the wind-carved rock of Potae ridge. A signposted track junction with the Colenso / Ruahine Corner Track is found on the crown of the ridge.