Distance: 10.4 km (5.0 DOC hours) - Marked route - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 1254m to 1773m. Gain: 1899m. Loss: 1994m . Gradient: 23 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills:

Marked route (6/9)
Uncut route, with markers normally within sight

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

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

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

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

From the track junction, the cairned track sidles to the east and under Waingaro Peak and pt 1550 before a short steep scramble regains the ridge-line.

Follow the cairns along the ridge to again sidle below Kakapo Peak, this time on the west, regaining the ridge at the 1600m contour. If climbing to Kakapo summit, you can drop packs here. Alternatively, you can eliminate the sidle and just follow the ridge line up to the summit then descent the scree and regain the track at the end of the sidle.

Continue along the range on the obvious foodpad. In the saddle below SH1610, you can either sidle to the right (east) or stay on the ridge. The ridge descends into the bush and, after one final climb, the track drops to the left off the ridge - follow the unmaintained track to the NW down to Lonely Lake Hut (3 bunks, basic).

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Lonely Lake Hut climb the unmaintained track through bush to the ridge-line. Continue generally south along the ridge following cairns to sidle on the west below Kakapo Peak and regain the ridge.

Another sidle is needed, this time to the east, below pt 1550 and Waingaro Peak to arrive in a bushy saddle.