Distance: 4.2 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 636m to 719m. Gain: 103m. Loss: 23m . Gradient: 2 deg (Gentle)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

Prolonged rivers (difficulty: 4/6)
Frequent river travel - impassible after rain, risk of getting trapped

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

A low-river route exists up the North Ashburton River from Cookies point to Boundary Stream and on to Comyns Hut. River crossings were knee to waist deep after a night of moderate rain and several were swift enough to be tricky for a solo tramper. River rocks in the Ashburton are algae-coated and slippery making crossings treacherous. Note also that whilst the riverbed and north-east valleyside are crown land, the south-west bank is private land as far up as Boundary Creek. The valley faces are steep and very scrubby meaning that the only simple routes are on the riverbed and valley floor. Crossings get progressively trickier as you go upriver with the worst in the last 1km below boundary stream - in the gorged section you are forced to cross where necessary and don;t get to choose your crossing point.

1.5-3 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description