Distance: 3.0 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1477m to 1700m. Gain: 214m. Loss: 281m . Gradient: 10 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

None (difficulty: 1/6)
No unbridged river crossings

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

From pt1715 (trig) a vague spur drops SW - a real compass job in poor visibility as the route/spur is not obvious. After descending 200m, you find yourself on a narrow ridgeline between pt1715 and Broken Ridge. A minor knob in the middle can be crossed, and the ridgeline is ok as far as the next saddle. Then the fun begins. A rocky outcrop blocks the way climbing directly up to Broken Ridge, and it is necessary to drop 50m NW towards Waterfall Creek to pass it. Sidle the loose scree face, crossing a gully, then climb again 100m up a loose scree face to regain the ridgeline again on the south side of the outcrop. The ridgeline is now a mix of waist-deep tussock and scrub, and climbs steeply to Broken Ridge. Force your way through it, gaining height until you crawl onto the top of Broken Ridge

Broken Ridge deserves its name - a narrow knife-edge of rotten crumbling rock. Follow the ridgeline SSE, avoiding false trails leading onto steep, gravel-on-rock faces. Gradually the ridgeline widens and the going becomes good as you reach the final easternmost knob (where the ridge starts to drop). This is the junction with the route from Hinerua Hut to the east.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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