Distance: 1.2 km (0.8 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1364m to 1576m. Gain: 212m. Loss: 28m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous 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

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

Tops frequently under snow or solid ice in winter

From the Studholme Hut turnoff at pt1408 to Kaweka J, the main range track runs entirely above the bushline - and for the most part above even lichen and tussock. Heading north the track drops through a barren landscape of grey stone towards Studholme Saddle. From the saddle the route climbs steeply gaining some 200 vertical meters to reach Mad Dog Hill, initially on bare shingle, but later entering tussock. 200m south of Mad Dog, another track junction is reached where a track drops down the spur east of Studholme Saddle Hut, leading to the hut form the north.

For some reason the ridge between Mad Dog and Kaiarahi (the next peak south from pt 1406) catches the worst of the south-westerly. I have had days that I can barely stand on this ridgeline, but could lay a map on the ground on the Kaweka summit without it so much as moving.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the northern Studholme turnoff at Mad Dog Hill, the main range track drops steadily south to Studholme Sadde, counter-intuitively leaving the tussock above for bare shingle on the saddle below. The slope is quite steep in places and poorly marked.

South of the saddle, a short climb takes you over an intermediate knob then up to pt1408, where a signposted track junction marks the southern access to Studholme Saddle Hut.

For some reason the ridge between Mad Dog and Kaiarahi (the next peak south from pt 1406) catches the worst of the south-westerly. I have had days that I can barely stand on this ridgeline, but could lay a map on the ground on the Kaweka summit without it so much as moving.