Distance: 5.5 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 577m to 1318m. Gain: 535m. Loss: 777m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6) 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

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

Streams (difficulty: 2/6)
Small streams, danger only in extreme weather

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

The valley below Ashton Hut is gorged and not good going. The usual route instead climbs pt1330.

From Ashton, sidle upriver at the height of the hut until a good sidle down into the creek presents itself. Cross and pick up the spur climbing WNW to the main ridge, and follow that to pt1330. From pt1330 follow the spur NE, and then drop the broad face to reach the Oreti Valley floor where the Ashton flows out. You'll hit the 4WD track here. Upper Oreti Hut is 1km downriver on the track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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