Distance: 3.7 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 412m to 1131m. Gain: 1044m. Loss: 357m . Gradient: 23 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7)

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-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous 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

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

A spur descends north from Oonah Saddle towards to forks in the Awe Burn on the east of a steep-sided gut. At around 700m the spur splits with the main spur continuing north turning to bluffs and a gentler side-spur dropping NE to hit the Awe Burn 500m downstream of the forks. This is the route between the Awe Burn and the Oohnah Saddle.

From the forks in the Awe Burn head 500m downstream on good flats on the true right, angling to hit the base of the NE-SW spur. Pick up good deer trails as you ascend the spur. There are occasional steep sections but good deer trials indicate a good trampable route. At around 700m this side-spur joins the main spur and swings south. Travel continues easy to 800m where good beech forest begins to turn scrubby and deer trails become sparse and the first of a series of bluffs is met. All the bluffs have good routes through them if you node around. Finally at 900m we hit the first of a series of clearings which can be strung together until you hit open tussock at 1000m. Continue south towards the low 1144m saddle with the Oonah Burn - this feels like you are sidling the face at some points.

Small tarns dot the saddle with many dry, sheltered spots for a tent.

2-3 hrs
See also: route from Moir's Guide. Ed 7. Pg 132. Oonah Saddle to Awe Burn

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description