Routes
Huts / campsites
Roadends
Summits
Passes / crossings
Scenic features
Junctions
DOC Land
Altitude: 760m to 1367m. Gain: 607m. Loss: 515m . Gradient: 17 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6)
From Spence Hut head briefly down stream on the true right of the Spence Burn until the first side stream is reached. Cross the side stream and begin climbing to the south on the true right of the stream. The forest is steep but reasonable travel can be had on a ridge high above the stream as it gorges.
Above the 900m contour cross the smaller sub stream and angle up through the bush in a more southwesterly direction with the goal of hitting the tree line at the gap in the scrub shown on the map. The scrub is tall and thick and is best avoided!
The pale green colour on the satellite photos is actually a type of grass growing on the ridge. Once you push through the (hopefully) thinnest part of the scrub guarding the bush line, the grassy ridge line between the 2 stream valleys provides steep but easy travel all the way up to the crest of the McLean Peaks. The tops can be explored eastwards for a few hundred metres but there is a fearsome line of bluffs coming off Pt 1487 which would need to be negotiated for those interested in heading further east to the main peaks.
Descend into the Wairaki via steep slopes on the southern side of the range. The stream can be followed lower down for a bit but it soon become scrubby near the 1000m contour. A ridge on the true left between the main stream and a smaller side stream entering from the north can be followed briefly until better travel is had in the small side stream to avoid the scrub. Where the small side stream drops into the main stream, climb away up the slopes on the true left to pick a line of least resistance through the belts of scrub.
Upper Wairaki Hut lies a short distance inside of the bush. A light trail leads into the trees and straight to it.