Distance: 5.1 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1250m to 1876m. Gain: 844m. Loss: 411m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Snow / ice (5/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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 (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

Snow / ice (difficulty: 5/7)
Scramble with snow/ice sections, ice axe & crampons required

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

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

This is bit fuzzy from memory, it was spring and the snow was soft, but i recall the south side as straight forward, and the north side of the pass follows an obvious shelf in the contours, rocky sort of mossy terain. Instead of going to Thomson Pass attain the saddle to the south, which avoids a slabby section.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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