Distance: 5.2 km (2.5 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 792m to 1451m. Gain: 662m. Loss: 587m . Gradient: 14 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

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 (difficulty: 3/5)
Occasional 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

Ice axe at a minimum for the western descent when snow/ice is present.

An old benched pack track zigzags easily west to the saddle with the Dingle, starting 400m south of Ahuriri Base Hut. The track is signposted. From the saddle the track becomes a poled route which sidles SW down the dingle faces to the next spur south, which it then follows steeply down to the valley floor. Top Dingle Hut is on the bushedge on a terrace 300m to the south.

1.5-3 hrs

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

A poled route heads up the spur north of Top Dingle Hut, climbing moderately steeply to 1300m before sidling north to the saddle with the Ahuriri. An old benched pack track zigzags easily down to the Ahuriri road, reaching it 400m south of Ahuriri Base Hut.

1.5-3 hrs