Distance: 1.6 km (1.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1355m to 1514m. Gain: 259m. Loss: 158m . Gradient: 15 deg (Moderate)
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

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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 Kime Hut, the poled route circles round the head of the basin and climbs the ridge to Field Peak. As short descent follows to a saddle, then a steady climb up Mt Hector on gravel and tussock. This section of track is less obvious on the ground than most of the southern crossing, and care should be taken with your route finding in poor visibility.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From the cross at Hector, drop NNW on gravel tops adjacent to the western escarpment. The track is not obvious in poor visibility, so take care with your direction. Dropping to a tussock saddle, the track - now clear on the ground - climbs field peak, and then circles the western head of the basin to reach Kime Hut.