Routes
Huts / campsites
Roadends
Summits
Passes / crossings
Scenic features
Junctions
DOC Land
Altitude: 400m to 1029m. Gain: 718m. Loss: 108m . Gradient: 15 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)
This is an alternative to the DOC recommended route which climbs the scrubby spur behind the homestead and then sidles the bushedge to the hut. I walked this route by torchlight, and though it challenged my nighttime navigation skills it was doable. The only 'dodgy bit' was finding a way down into Reids Creek after hitting scrub.
Follow good tracks upriver from the homesterad, crossing to the western bank of Reids Creek. Head up the western bank on the easy gradient through open beech until you hit scrub. Head to the drop-off to the creek and push up a bit further until you find a scramble down. Climb the creekbed and adjoinging faces until the creek flattens out. Here a defined spur drops from the south with good tracks heading up it. Follow the spur to the base of a large scoured out gully covered with grass and scattered scrub. Head up the open gully until it starts to bluff out at its head. Cut east onto the spur and pick up small interconnected clearings climbing the spur, until you reach a large open clearing. At the top of the clearing cut right (west) into mature beech and aim directly for the hut - this means heading slightly right of directly uphill.
The hut is located in a clear area on the bushedge, penned in by a large stock pen. Note that you will cross up to 3 creek snot shown on the map as you cross the face to reach it.