I took this photo en route from James Mackay hut to the MOW Mackay Downs hut. This route follows lots of tussock leads & crosses quite a few low saddles. The weather & scenery was superb!

We were told about this particular route by a DOC guy that used to work with John back in NZFS days. You leave the Heaphy track at James Mackay hut & take the trig track behind the staff quarters. Drop over the ridge to the tussock & head N then NW following tussock leads. For a while there are old bird survey markers to follow then the occasional cairn & stake until the last km or so where the Blue Shirt Ck route is hit. This last stretch has sparse manuka stake marking all the way to the hut. Five minutes before the hut there is an old hut sign of weathered wood with flat head nails making the letters and pointer.

Walking the above route between James Mackay hut and the MOW hut took exactly four hours including one snack break and numerous photo stops.