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DOC Land
Altitude: 374m to 842m. Gain: 482m. Loss: 480m . Gradient: 12 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Streams (2/6)
A straight-forward crossing from the Torre/Tuaraki confluence to below Lake Norma in Elaine Stream.
Head up the south branch of Tuaraki Stream from te Torre / Tuaraki forks - travel seems best of the true left. At about 520m a small side-creek enters from the west draining the pass marked 832. Climb the initially vague spur on the south side of this creek (the north side has many steep side-guts that are very hard to cross). Once level with the pass, sidle west off the spur (keep below the bushedge as faces above are very scrubby) and into the saddle. Small clearings exist on the saddle with good dry campspots.
Good deer trail lead down the creek SW from the saddle until going becomes steep where the trails cut out to the true right, later crossing back to the true left at around 700m once the bluffs on the true left are past. Meander down gentle slopes on the true left of the creek aiming for the gentle faces through the next line of bluffs (at 500m) shown on the map 200m south of the stream. Deer trails come and go but are there when you need them in steeper sections.
Once below the steep faces on the flat valley floor it is possible to head due south towards the outlet of Lake Norma. Clearings with dry camping exist just south of the base of this descent.
Once you hit the creek, remain on the true right and follow deer trails upstream through slow boulder-moraine to the lake outlet.
4-6 hrs