Distance: 2.4 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1538m to 1696m. Gain: 119m. Loss: 277m . Gradient: 9 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

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 the sign at Iron Peg, follow faint ground trail SE along top of Hawkes Bay range, dropping down to a saddle at the top of Iron Peg Creek, before climbing steeply up the other side to a trig (not shown on map). Several large tarns are along this route. The ridge narrows up before the head of Pinnacle Creek, but is easy to negotiate. A sharp left turn leads to the eroded section just before the saddle into the Creek. This is best negotiated by stepping down the first rocky section, then using the slip on the Southern face to cross below the eroded section. We dropped down approx 5-10m to some tussock clumps, where we sidled on a slight downhill to the other side of the scree. I have negotiated this section twice this way. Climb back up the tussock to regain the saddle and sign pointing to Waterfall Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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