Distance: 6.0 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 1237m to 1489m. Gain: 683m. Loss: 686m . Gradient: 13 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

Unmarked route, clear (7/9)
Unmarked route, follows obvious geography (river, spur, trail, etc)

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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Tall, walkable scrub / large rocks, occasional waterfalls or gorges in rivers

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

South from Sparrowhawk the main Ruahine ridge becomes scrubby. The climb to Maropea is ok, but Maropea summit is dominated by speargrass and best bypassed to the west. The saddle south between Maropea and pt1476 is scrubby and tough on the legs, but 'ok.'. The next saddle south however, is covered with thick scrub and densely packed bush and is a real bushbash (2014). It is hgard, painful going and 'find-your-own-way' until you get clear of it climbing to pt1499. I sidled the west, then crossed to the east, but the route was hardly recommendable.

Once on to pt1499, things improve, and it is an easy climb over the peak and down to Armstrong Saddle, where the track crossing from Sunrise to Top Maropea is obvious. A small tarn at the saddle provides water if you need it.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

2018 - Took longer than previously indicated 2 hours (allow 3). Follow the ridge from Armstrong Saddle north along the range - for the first part mostly along the top of the ridge. An intermittent, but clear ground trail can be found. At 1476, make sure you veer slightly to the eastern side to stay on the main ridge. Travel through this section is mostly easy tussock travel.

Climbing up to Maropea, the route passes over and around some rock formations, then through a patch of leatherwood. Vegetation is quite dense in places, but a very well marked (tape) and mostly clear passage with a good ground trail is roughly cut along the eastern side. Completed some further cutting to make it easier.

From here it is an easy tussock walk to the junction to Sparrowhawk, which is marked with warratahs and a well cut track leads down to the biv.