Distance: 5.6 km (6.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Hard terrain
Altitude: 1056m to 1719m. Gain: 685m. Loss: 573m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Prolonged scrambles (4/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - High avalanche risk, iceaxe/crampons (7/7)

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

Hard (difficulty: 5/5)
Thick scrub-bash / continuous river boulders, waterfalls, or gorges

Prolonged scrambles (difficulty: 4/7)
Scramble, frequently on exposed ridges, spurs, faces

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

High avalanche risk, iceaxe/crampons (difficulty: 7/7)
Ice axe and crampons required, high/prolonged avalanche risk

Follow ground trail on the Esquilant Biv track until the giant cairn at around 1650m, traverse north (scree/tussock) to reach ridge above Hunter Creek South Branch. Descend ridge and cut back left on easy slopes to reach the South Branch. Some short scrub sections to reach the river flats.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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