Distance: 4.3 km (7.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 602m to 1257m. Gain: 649m. Loss: 730m . Gradient: 19 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

From the track junction on the leading spur between 1415 and the Ruamahanga loses elevation quickly and is generally well worn. Once in the bush line, the track is marked to the river confluence and the first crossing.

Continuing to sidle the tributary, the track is loose in places, with windfall and deviations (look out for the occasional marker). There aren't too many options on the river crossing and is simply not possible when in flood.

Climbing steeply to the ridgeline above, the climb is consistent until out of the bush.
The route is mostly obvious, until out of the overgrown tussock and leatherwood, look carefully for the footpad.
An open shingle shute leads up onto the ridgeline, with markers and waratahs that could be easily missed in low vis.

Once on the broad open tops, some ground trail follows sparse rocky cairns. In fog, the unmarked turnoff to Cattle Ridge Hut is difficult to locate and map/compass skills are required, otherwise the red roof is one feature not miss off in a basin to the east.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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