Distance: 4.1 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 427m to 1469m. Gain: 1054m. Loss: 187m . Gradient: 18 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Prolonged scrambles (4/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6)

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

Secondary, unmapped (4/5)
Route not on maps, an alternative recognised access to hut or along range / catchment

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

Easy-moderate (difficulty: 2/5)
Tussock / river-gravel / open bush / cut track

Prolonged scrambles (difficulty: 4/7)
Scramble, frequently on exposed ridges, spurs, faces

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Unknown (difficulty: 0/7)
Not specified

No description

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

This route crosses land belonging to Cheviot Downs Station. Permission is required to cross their land. The landowners refer to the ridge dropping north from Exclesior Peak down through their station as Whisky Ridge.

From the tarns east of Excelsior Peak, cross rolling terrain to the northwest before sidling and climbing scree slopes beneath the summit of Excelsior Peak, aiming for the north ridge at about 1470-1480m. From here, it's a simple task to drop packs off and scramble the final 60ish metres along the knife-edge like ridge to the summit of Excelsior Peak. The 360-degree views are spectacular.

Continue northwards along the summit ridge for a couple of hundred metres until there is a clear descent route off the summit ridge and down steep slopes onto Whisky Ridge. The eastern side of Whisky Ridge has steep drop-offs into the headwaters of Bridge Creek so should be avoided.

Pick your way down Whisky Ridge, keeping to the ridge crest as it skirts drop-offs and unstable scree slopes on both sides of the ridge. Just up from the 900m contour the ridge opens up and you descend down to a fence marking the top boundary of Cheviot Downs Station. Cross through a gate, on the other side is an old farm track. Follow the farm track all the way down as it curves to the west below 700m and drops down towards Excelsior Creek. Some boggy terrain is crossed at the bottom of the ridge, then aim for some poplar trees on the true right side of Excelsior Creek, crossing the stream here. Once on the true left, follow the river bank down and cross the paddock to reach the gate of a horse paddock beside the farmhouse. Cross this paddock to the farm driveway.