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DOC Land
Altitude: 157m to 1350m. Gain: 1206m. Loss: 1128m . Gradient: 17 deg (Steep)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Prolonged rivers (4/6) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)
From the former hut site in the Clarke, head upriver on the true left, climbing 100m above the river in beech forest to find terraces above the gorge. Cross the sidestream entering from the east, and follow it / the low ridge between it and the main river upstream until due south of Davies Flat. Cut east across large terraces and pick up the spur between this sidecreek and the next sidecreek upriver. This is ill-defined at first but becomes obvious as you climb. Good map/.compass work required to hit it.
A steep 500m climb through mostly good beech forest follows to reach the bushedge. From there it's another 200m of climb to pt1388 on good low tussock tops. Amazing views of the solution range as it rises from beech forest to glaciated tops, and of the main range opposite. Also clear views of the McKinnon creek and Broderick Pass opposite.
From pt1388 a narrow spur angle first SSE, later SE, dropping to the Landsborough. This was reasonable, if steep, travel throughout, first on tussock, later in open beech.
The Landsborough may be crossed at the foot of the ridge (the former swingbridge / walkwire site) under normal flows, but can become impassable after even moderate rain Travel up / down the river is generally on the southern bank so a crossing here is required.