Distance: 4.1 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 714m to 1481m. Gain: 33m. Loss: 776m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Secondary, mapped (3/5)
Formal route, on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

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

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

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From Vension Tops Hut head south to the junction that heads east to Ballard Hut, Whetu & the main ridge of the Kaweka Range. From the junction continue heading south & climb to the open tops of pt 1490. Swing SW & drop to the bush line & continue dropping to the NW side of pt 1368. From the NW side of this high point swing south & drop down the spur to Rocks Ahead Stream, cross this & climb to Rocks Ahead Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Rocks Ahead Hut, cross Rocks Ahead Stream & climb in a north-NW direction up the spur to sidle along the NW side of pt 1368. This sidle swings east-NE & continues to climb to the bush edge & on to the open tops & the high point of pt 1490. From here drop to a track junction that heads east to Ballard Hut, Whetu & the main Kaweka Ridge. Slightly north of the aforementioned junction is Vension Tops Hut (Tira Lodge).