Distance: 1.7 km (2.0 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 0m to 679m. Gain: 297m. Loss: 679m . Gradient: 38 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills:

Tramping track (4/9)
Cut, marked tramping track: natural, rough ground surface

Primary, mapped (1/5)
Formal route, on maps, principal 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

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

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

None (difficulty: 1/7)
No alpine skills required

The track to Washpool climbs the ridge directly behind Pararaki Hut – 550m to the top and I felt every meter of it. A well marked, well cut track but a relentless gradient: the first 200m bloody steep, the rest merely steep. However, glimpse views from the climb, and a good clearing at the top the top look out along the coast past Lake Ferry and Ocean Beech and across to the Seaward Kaikouras - snow-capped with fire in the evening sun. There’s even cellphone coverage at the summit – the only point on the trip. You can decide if that’s a good or bad thing.

Cruise tape (flagging / marker tape to you northerners) wrapped round a tree near the summit marks the turn off along the ridge towards Sutherlands Hut.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

No description