Distance: 2.9 km (1.5 DOC hours) - Unmaintained track - Moderate terrain
Altitude: 1308m to 1666m. Gain: 418m. Loss: 117m . Gradient: 11 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) Winter - Iceaxe/crampons (4/7)

Unmaintained track (5/9)
Former track, overgrown - markers / ground trail still followable

Primary, unmapped (2/5)
Route not on maps, but is principal access to hut or along range / catchment

Moderate-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous moderate climbs

Moderate (difficulty: 3/5)
Low scrub in open or bush / river rocks

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

An unmaintained track climbs from Armstrong saddle to Te Atuaoparapara summit for spectacular views.

From Armstrong saddle, follow the track west towards Top Maropea Hut for 600m to where the track starts to drop north, and the ridgeline swings SSW. Follow the ridgeline SSW along a rough ground trail, dropping to a saddle and then climbing the pyramidal peak beyond. The trail up the lower section of the climb is indistinct - but at a push you can merely follow the ridgeline up. A ground trail becomes clearer higher up, cutting briefly onto the eastern face (don't go too far, you'll hit slips) before climbing to the first summit above.

Te Atuaoparapara is the second of two summits, and the views are spectacular.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Te Atuaoparapara , head north over the lower peak, and follow the ridgeline NE, descending steadily towards the saddle below. The track becomes less distinct as the face gets broader, but a good trail does exist through the sparse scrub lower down. After the saddle the trail becomes clear again, climbing to the next unnumbered peak where it joins the track from Top Maropea Hut, swinging east for 600m to Armstrong Saddle. A tarn at the saddle provides water.