Distance: 2.4 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 630m to 1322m. Gain: 9m. Loss: 692m . Gradient: 17 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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

minor (5/5)
A viable route, not widely used

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous 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

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

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

Exposed above the bush line, steep slope requires care.

From the low point on the saddle climb eastwards to the broad ridge north of Point 1362. A dry water channel runs down the spur through the tussock, a few metres back from the drop off into Duck Creek. Head down towards the tree line where the water channel enters the trees. Follow as it drops steeply down through the bush. When the gradient slackens off the dry water channel becomes a ground trail which runs parallel to Duck Creek. Follow the trail, past the inlet pipe and water storage tank for Mckellar hut to connect with the Greenstone track at the true right side of the bridge over Duck Creek. McKellar hut is a couple of hundred metres southeastwards down the track.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

Make your way to the bridge over Duck Creek and look for an unmarked ground trail going up the true right. Follow this through gently sloping bush. The trail becomes a dry water coarse which drops steeply down from the ridge above. Follow the water coarse all the way up to the bush line, don't leave it. At the bush line, make your way up through the tussock, sticking to water channels and keeping away from the drop off on your right hand side. At the top of the climb drop down an easy slope to the Duck Creek/Cascade Creek Saddle.