Distance: 3.4 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1127m to 1971m. Gain: 15m. Loss: 859m . Gradient: 15 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 4/7)
Ice axe and crampons required in winter

The descent of Mikonui Spur from Mt Bowen to Mikonui Spur biv is generally straight forward. Initial sections are steep in places and may require ice-axe and even crampons is snow/ice is present. A brief gut/notch in the ridgeline at around 1400m can either be downclimbed on exposed vegetation on the ridgeline, or it is possible to downclimb into the steep gut 20-40 south of the ridgeline where there is less exposure, and follow the gut back up to the ridgeline.

Obvious triangle markers start about 200m before the biv and lead to the bivouac where a small tarn provides water.

1.5-2 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description