Distance: 2.5 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Benched track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1046m to 1402m. Gain: 441m. Loss: 85m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Benched track (3/9)
Benched, maintained, marked tramping track or pack-track

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

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

From the Penn Creek Hut turnoff, the southern crossing track climbs gently to the base of Dennan, and then starts to sidle the northern face, climbing more steeply to regain the ridgeline. The track is benched and very well-worn and easy to follow. A further ridgeline section follows, and a final climb onto the flat tops of Bridge Peak. A signpost just after the escarpment marks the turnoff east to Mangahuka, with the main Kime Hut track continuing south. This section is exposed to weather and frequently in cloud, but is poled.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the broad tops of Bridge Peak, the southern crossing track drops north onto a rocky ridgeline. The track is benched and well worn and very easy to follow, but exposed to weather. Alternating between the ridgeline and northern face the track drops past Dennan onto the flat tops at the southern end of Table Top, where a signpost marks the track dropping east to Penn Creek Hut.