Distance: 1.1 km (0.5 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1383m to 1424m. Gain: 52m. Loss: 17m . Gradient: 4 deg (Gentle)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Gentle (difficulty: 2/5)
Gentle slopes

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

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

From the top of the Omarukokere Spur, the Rocks Ahead track climbs briefly before reaching the broad, exposed Manson tops. The route is poled & well travelled. The stamped metal signposted junction for routes to Rocks Ahead, Otutu & Manson Hut & also Manson Biv is reached after 1km.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the Manson - Rocks Ahead junction a poled & well travelled route heads E-NE towards Rocks Ahead Hut through what looks like a moonscape dominated by sporadic stumpy rugged knobs & waves of rocks. After 1km on broad exposed tops a narrower ridgeline forms & the track swings east, dropping 40m into a saddle, which marks the turnoff to Omarukokere Biv to the north.