Distance: 1.8 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 1571m to 1685m. Gain: 154m. Loss: 185m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Occasional scrambles (3/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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 (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional moderate climbs

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

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

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

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

Note: Avalanche risk has not been assessed in this guide.

This is a tough, steep scramble and can hold snow / ice into late summer.

From Te Hekenga, the ridgeline SE can be followed for a couple of hundred meters before it becomes narrow, crumbly and dangerous. The north face is sheer, and not an option. Instead, drop south through the crown rocks, using any of the grass chutes present, onto the face below. Then sidle SE on steep tussock faces below the crumbling rock of the ridgeline. . A well established ground trail is visible on this face when not covered in snow, and in late summer it is a scramble, but nothing technical. However, this southern face never sees the sun, and I've known it to retain ice chutes as late as February. In these conditions, an ice-axe was a necessity when crossing the steep, exposed chutes of hard ice.

Once past the slip (shown on maps) the route sidles back up to the ridgeline, and follows it SW to Taumataomekura highpoint. From here it is a simple stroll NE to Tiraha: the southernmost peak on the infamous Sawtooth Range.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

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