Distance: 2.4 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1366m to 1797m. Gain: 214m. Loss: 461m . Gradient: 16 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Streams (2/6)

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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

To the west of Popes Pass, in the head of the Taipo, scree faces descend from the still cloud-covered peak of Mt Harman. Climb the best looking of them, 150m north of the pass itself, to emerge onto the snowfield-terrace above at 1700m. Sidle the snow/rock plateau WSW beneath south-eastern face of Mt Harman - fast easy travel, climbing steadily to the crest at 1800m.

The southern shoulder of Mt Harman provides amazing views of Lake Browning, the Wilberforce and the Arahura.

The descent to Lake Browning is straight forward on rock and scree - but was ice-rimed even in March when I visited. Drop down a broad scree ridge towards the lake itself, cutting finally down tussock gullies to the outlet of the lake. Crossing the lake outlet join the old Browning Pass pack-track on the western shore, 200m beyond.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description