Distance: 6.2 km (4.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 215m to 1284m. Gain: 33m. Loss: 1101m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From the biv, follow the creek for about 1km down the valley. This involves the usual mix of sidling, rock-hopping and wet feet. The sidle track starts where indicated on the map, and is well marked, well cut (2006), but still very slow going: narrow with steep dropoffs and many, many roots. Overall the trip took twice my estimated time. The track reaches the Whitcombe at the confluence with Tom Creek. Older maps show Frew Hut located here, but the new hut has been relocated 500m upriver to the confluence with Frew Creek itself. A good track runs up the eastern bank of the Whitcombe past the hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Frew hut, follow the marked track downriver 500m or so to a signposted track junction. Turn east here along another cut, marked track, climbing the spur then sidling onto the northern face of the Frew Creek valley. The track was well cut (2007) but still very slow going: narrow with steep dropoffs and many, many roots. Overall the trip took twice my estimated time.

The track ends at the river about 1km below the biv, and you are left to scramble your way upstream until you get to good tussock and can follow the creek banks to the biv, just west of the saddle.