Distance: 0.0 km (3.0 DOC hours) - Unmarked route, clear - Easy-moderate terrain
Altitude: 437m to 1258m. Gain: 821m. Loss: 1m . Gradient: 23 deg (Moderate-hard)
Skills: Alpine weather (2/7) - Occasional rivers (3/6) 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-hard (difficulty: 4/5)
Continuous 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

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

Sleepy Hollow is most easily reached by following the ridge on the true right of the creek which drains it (north-west side). Cross the Caples at the confluence at the base of the river flats then head up the true right of the creek which drains Sleepy Hollow. Eventually you'll pick up the clear spur 100m NW of the creek. The spur is in mature beech and clear of undergrowth all the way to the bushline at about 1400m. From here views of the Mid Caples valley flats and Ailsa Mountains beyond are fair reward for the climb.

Note: Described in the reverse direction to your journey

From Sleepy Hollow outfall, head west over the low flat summit of pt1742, and follow the main spur dropping west. Cut round the head of the first sidecreek shown on the map, and swing south. A clear spur runs just west of the creek all the way to the Caples valley floor through good mature beech forest. You emerge at the base end of large flats. The Caples can be waded here in normal flows (knee deep) to reach the track. Alternatively a swingbridge exists just above Upper Caples Hut 3.5km upriver.