Distance: 6.5 km (3.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 356m to 1331m. Gain: 1023m. Loss: 161m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous 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

Ice axe / crampons required if snow level below 1200m

A poled route leads up the northern side of Buckler Burn to join 4WD tracks to McIntosh Huts.

From the Mt Judah Carpark, return to the main road, cross the bridge toward Glenorchy and look out for a vague track and partially hidden signpost 15m north of the bridge on the western side of the road. Nose around against the deer fence until you find it.

The poled route is cut through scrub, following the deer fence up the western side of Buckler Burn and climbing gently. After 1km the route veers off the fenceline and follows a working water race.until it hits a fenceline at the bottom of Chinamans Flat. The poled route swings west, following the fenceline and involving a bit of a scramble across a small creek. Once on the far side the route is clear, following the fenceline to the base of the peak visible ahead.

The route ascends the peak in three very steep climbs, sticking beside the fenceline all the way to the summit, and gaining 600m in little over 1km. Very steep.

Once at pt1203 the track follows the ridgeline climbing gently to meet the 4WD track at pt1247. The 4WD track leads east over a series of sharp summits to the saddle at pt1244 where a signpost marks the junction with the track from McIntyre Hut and the Mt Judah Track in the valley below.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the track junction at saddle 1244, the 4WD track heads west climbing over a series of sharp knobs to pt1247 where a signpost marks the point to leave the 4WD track. A poled route follows the fenceline south from pt1247 along the main ridgeline to pt1203. A series of 3 very steep descents follow, the poled route following the fenceline down some 600m in little over 1km.

On reaching Chinamans Flat, the poles continue, following the fenceline west, crossing a small gully in a bit of a scramble, to meet a water race beyond. Follow the water race downstream for 1km until it disappears back through the fence then follow the fenceline all the way to the main road. The route is cut through scrub lower down, and is poled throughout. The Judah carpark is 100m south along the main road, across the Buckler Burn bridge.