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DOC Land
Altitude: 363m to 1054m. Gain: 572m. Loss: 980m . Gradient: 6 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Streams (2/6)
From the biv cross head back down to the East Matukituki river and follow it down the flats, crossing as required for the best travel, to Ruth Flats as marked on map CA11, about 1 hour from the biv. At the bottom of the flats markers lead into the bush and begins to climb up the hill above the Bledisloe Gorge. The first large stream you encounter coming down from between Peak 1866 and Point 1534 is an impressive rock chocked flood channel which you have to scramble down into and out of. Probably impassible after rain. After passing above some bluffs the track clears the bush and traverses open terrain which stretches down from the Albert Burn Saddle about, about 3 hours from Ruth Flat. The track drops steeply down the hill side, reentering the bush and heads all the way down the Matukituki. In late 2013 there was a large scrub fire around here. I'm not sure if its had an effect on the track or not. Cross the 3 wire bridge over the Matukituki and then cross the flood plain of Junction Flat (good camping spots). A second 3 wire crosses the Kitchener River. The track carries on down river until finally you reach a small clearing with good camping not far up from the Glacier Burn, about 8 hours from Ruth Flat. The car park at Cameron Flat is only about 1.5 hours away if you want to walk straight out.