Distance: 2.8 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1321m to 1710m. Gain: 488m. Loss: 99m . Gradient: 12 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Streams (2/6)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Secondary, mapped (3/5)
Formal route, on maps, an alternative recognised 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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From Heather Jock Hut, climb to the spur and follow it south climbing towards Mt Alaska. After 500m an obvious old mining track (4WD) crosses the spur and sidles the face to the east - follow it. The track is unmaintained and crosses several active slips - an ice-axe or pole was handy crossing these steep, loose sections. The track crosses two creeks, zigzagging out of each before sidling a large tussock basin to reach the former Larkins Slip Hut, of which only the roof remains (2015).

This appears to be the end of the usable track - beyond it disappears completely as it crosses Larkins Slip towards the former mine site.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Fromn the former Larkins Slip Hut, an old miners track sidles west towards Heather Jock. Crossing two gullies, the track sidles over several active slips and has been wiped out in places. A good pole ro ice-axe is handy for these steep crossings. Once on the main spur descending from Mt Alaska to Heather Jock you can leave the track and follow the spur down. Heather Jock Hut is visible 150m west of the main spur.