Routes
Huts / campsites
Roadends
Summits
Passes / crossings
Scenic features
Junctions
DOC Land
Altitude: 592m to 772m. Gain: 317m. Loss: 173m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: - Prolonged rivers (4/6)
A 20m waterfall lies a few hundred meters upriver of Ikawetea Forks, and a track sidles past this section of river. Climbing steeply from the hut it follows the ridge behind the hut gaining 300m before an arrow points left and it drops down a near vertical gut to the river: wet feet time.
The river rocks are slippery, a coating of red that rings warning bells. The valley is tight, and a good half of the time is spent in the water – cold, surprisingly cold. Deep pools just before the first major forks lead me to sidle onto the northern face. The vegetation is thick, young beech seedlings, flax, tall grass. - bluffs force a climb to the ridgeline 100m above, sidling, then dropping to the first set of forks.
On tree-covered terraces just upstream there’s the remains of a substantial tent-camp or bivvy. Beech-pole structure laid flat on the forest floor, remains of tarpaulins, fireplace.
Above the confluence, another sidle, past low bluffs this time and back into the river, before the valley widens and good grassy banks make going easier for a time, tightening again a couple of km before Rockslide. Above the next forks, the thickly forested slopes begin to steepen. Slips become more frequent, and the tight valley opens – gravel flats appearing beside the creek. A huge slip, some 600m long scars the north valleyside, white gravel and rock, with green grass on the higher slopes. And opposite a cairn of orange painted stones point the way to Rockslide Biv.