Distance: 2.3 km (1.3 DOC hours) - Tramping track - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 879m to 1512m. Gain: 0m. Loss: 633m . Gradient: 16 deg (Moderate)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6) Winter - Snow/ice underfoot (2/7)

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

Occasional rivers (difficulty: 3/6)
Occasional rivers - impassible after heavy rain

Snow/ice underfoot (difficulty: 2/7)
Snow/ice likely on track

This track has some steep sections, and whilst ice-axe / crampons would not necessarily be required, I'd feel more comfortable with an axe / pole to self-arrest if required.

After sidling south-west of pt 1635 the poled route reaches the spur which drops to Traingle Hut, and follows it down. The tussock becomes tall, and the route is uncut and sparsely marked. The first 400m can be slow going. On reaching the scrubline, a marked, cut track resumes and drops steeply through scrub then bush to reach the Oroua Rive at the forks directly opposite Triangle Hut. The river is normally crossed direct to the hut (ankle to knee deep), and can also generally be crossed after normal rainfall by crossing two smaller forks upstream of the hut. Extreme rain, however, can make this crossing impassable.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Traingle Hut, cross the Oroua river below the forks (or cross both forks upstream is the river is high) and pick up the marked, cut track climbing the north-western spur opposite the hut. A good steep tramping tarck climbs to the bushline, where a sparsely poled route through thick tussock commences. This section can be slow going and hard to follow. Higher up the route becomes better defined and marked with a good ground trail. A low saddle on the main ridgeline can be seen to the west and the track climbs to this height before swinging west off the spur to sidle the face towards this saddle.

For those heading north to Pourangaki this is the point to leave the poled route and head north on the open untracked tops.