Distance: 4.7 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 760m to 1847m. Gain: 1096m. Loss: 12m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is 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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

A steep long climb up an old fenceline track.

From the top of the Shepherd's Hut Creek track, follow the Mt Ida Water Race north for 1km to where a fenceline is visible descending the next spur north. Follow the track beside the fenceline east to the base of the slope and then climb it as it ascends very steeply up the spur. The gradient is relentless, but the track well defined to pt1334. Here the track and fence become vague, but you are on open rock and scree and a simple but steep climb follows up the remainder of the spur to the summit of the Hawkdon Range above.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the obvious junction of 4WD tracks at pt 1857, drop west picking up the obvious spur and following occasional remains of an old fenceline. The descent is on good rock and scree to pt1334, where a buldozed track commences, paralleling the fenceline all the way down to the Mt Ida Water Race below. Follow the waterrace south for 1km to the signposted Shepherd's Hut Creek track