Distance: 2.7 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Road - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1364m to 1629m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 265m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Road (1/9)
Formed road, 4WD track, etc

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

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

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

A 4WD track continues west from the summit of Symes Road for 1km before becoming very rough and dropping into the head of the Fraser in a big zigzag. The rough road ends 20m above the river. Nicholson's hut is on the opposite side and can only be reached on foot. The river is small, but expect wet feet crossing unless the river is low.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Nicholson;s Hut, cross the creek to the start of a rough 4WD track zigzagging east up the face to the Old Man summit. 1km across the tops leads to a signposted track junction at the top of Symes Road.