Distance: 0.8 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 914m to 1188m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 274m . Gradient: 21 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

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

minor (5/5)
A viable route, not widely used

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Tall, walkable scrub / large rocks, occasional waterfalls or gorges in rivers

Alpine weather (difficulty: 2/7)
Tramp on open tops, exposed to alpine weather

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From the highest point of 1197 descend north initially and then descend in a more easterly directing into the gully that runs north from 1197. Head straight for the tongue of tussock that's shown on the map jutting into the trees. In reality, the tussock tongue is mostly full of scrub, so keep to the western side and thread your way down, keeping above the bush clad stream that descends the gully shown on the map west of the tongue. A short dense alpine scrub belt requires pushing through, then descend straight down through bush. A tiny stream is soon encountered under the trees, follow its true left side all the way down to the Routeburn track.

In my opinion this is an easier route then the descent to the northwest of 1197.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

About 5 minutes from Earland Falls look for a tiny un-bridged stream crossing the Routeburn in a concave section of track. Climb here directly north keeping to the streams true left the whole way while under the trees. Leave the stream when you site alpine scrub and pus through it to reach the scrubby tongue of tussock. Once higher up the tongue its a simple climb up the gully to Point 1197.