Distance: 8.0 km (4.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, hard - Moderate-hard terrain
Altitude: 600m to 1128m. Gain: 750m. Loss: 270m . Gradient: 7 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) - Streams (2/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (3/7)

Unmarked route, hard (8/9)
Unmarked route, no clear geographic features to follow

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

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

Occasional scrambles (difficulty: 3/7)
Tramp with some scrambles and exposure to falls

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

Snow/ice underfoot, avalanche risk (difficulty: 3/7)
Snow/ice likely on track, tramp crosses avalance paths

It can be a very serious place in Winter. Avalanche paths cover most of the route and snow and ice can mask everything.

Not to be underestimated- in summer conditions it is a tramping route as far as the biv but then all routes become steep to vertical rock. You may feel tempted to take a more direct line around Lake Adelaide. Don't. The route stays in open tussock and rock and avoids the legendary moraines that are closer to the lake. The ledges around the lake itself are pleasantly easy with a well trodden ground trail. Cairns usually show where to cross at the outlet of Lake South America and stay slightly higher on open ground again before dropping down to the Biv. Highly reccommended!

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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