Distance: 6.0 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1481m to 1863m. Gain: 616m. Loss: 613m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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 poled route does exist all the way to Dumb-bell Lake, possibly via the west side of Peak 1922, but we made our own way.

Cross the basin and climb up to the saddle between Peak 1922 and 1736 above Sawyers Creek. Sidle around the head of the creek, scree slopes shown on the map were mostly covered in snow in November 2016 requiring ice axes. From the broad saddle south of Pinnacle its a straight forward climb up onto it where there is a fine view down to Dumb-bell Lake. Drop down scree slopes north of the peak to reach a boggy terrace just south of the lake. From here, snow poles can be followed around to the southwest which lead back onto the saddle south of Pinnacle.

The ridge line can be followed up and over the ridge east of Peak 1922 and steep rock slopes climbed down to re-enter the Freehold Creek north branch basin. Drop down the ridge line back to the tarns.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description