Mount Owen - northern approach from Courthouse Flat

15 minute drive past start of Wangapeka track you will find courthouse Flat.From here the most common route is up the ridge between Granity and Blue creeks (though there is an alternative up Blue creek through forest to gain the ridge-top track).The ridge track climbs through scrub and forest to Billies saddle before descending steeply into Blue creek and continues in forest.Emerging into the subalpine scrub at the head of the valley follow the dry creek bed to entrance of Ghost valley and Granity pass Hut on a terrace above the true right of the stream.From here cross opposite the hut and go east into Sanstuary Basin, then north around Sentinel hill towards Mt. Owen.Find your own route through marble outcrops on the final climb to the trig.The route is difficult to follow in misty or bad weather.