Distance: 13.1 km (8.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 719m to 2044m. Gain: 1327m. Loss: 1138m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)

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

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

Travel up the lower Boundary Creek from the North Ashburton is slow due to thick scrub, so instead find the 1st available route through the scrub onto the spur/knob west of Boundary Creek. Once up on the tussock travel is fast and simple, following the terrace on the northern valleyside upriver, rejoining the valley floor at the forks at 1000m.

The remainder of Boundary Creek can be followed on the valley floor to the valley head on low tussock, moraine fields and scree. Make sure to take the southern fork at both forks in the upper valley, then climb good stable scree the remaining 350 vertical meters to the saddle at pt2061.

An easy descent on loose flowing scree takes you down into the head of the Swin Burn South Branch (would be hard loose climbing though). The valley floor can be followed all the way to Double Hut though detours onto the valleyside to take advantage fo scree runs can make travel easier. The creek was no more than ankle deep, at any crossing in normal flow conditions.

Double Hut is north of the river just where it exits the tight valley onto a sloping plain. The hut is not visible from the creek, but the toilet is.

5-8hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description