Routes
Huts / campsites
Roadends
Summits
Passes / crossings
Scenic features
Junctions
DOC Land
Altitude: 700m to 1229m. Gain: 561m. Loss: 661m . Gradient: 21 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Prolonged scrambles (4/7) - Streams (2/6)
From the Worsley Rock Biv, follow the terrace south of the river downstream to the escarpment above the main valley, and follow deer trails down into the main valley below, avoiding waterfalls in the creek itself. Follow the creek down to where a shungle gully / chute drops from the northern valleyside.
The beech spur (the uppermost in the valley) which climbs up the southern valleyside directly opposite the shingle chute/gully leads directly to the pass into the southern branch of the Wild Natives. Follow steep boggy deer trails up the beech spur, keeping west of the small sidecreek and emerge onto tussock faces. Climb steep tussock to the pass visible above.
Small tarns exist at the pass with dry campspots exposed to the southerly.
From the pass, angle SSE down the obvious ramp beyond which leads directly towards the tarns of the Taheke Saddle visible across the valley - keeping close to the base of bluffs. Reaching the start of the drop-off into the southern branch, swing ESE, still keeping close to bluffs and pass the head of one gully, picking up very strong deer trails dropping into the second gully of the three that descend SE to the valley below (the 1st gully descends directly from the ramp, and soon bluffs out; the third gully (Mentioned by Moir's) is visible descending from higher up the mountain just to the east). Note that the deer trails are important - if you are not seeing deer trails then you are probably descending the wrong gully which will lead to impassable bluffs.
The deer trails start by descending the spur on the true right of the gully but are steep and exposed - you may find it safer to scramble down dry waterfalls int the gully itself for all of this upper part. Half way down, entering scrub, pick up the strong deer trail as it leaves the gully and descends the spur on the true left - all the way to the valley floor.
On the way down into the Wild Natives, look out for the broad sparsely vegetated creek angling east up the face opposite from below the Taheke saddle - this is the easiest route up to Taheke, leaving you with just a short sidle from the busedge to the saddle itself.
