Nice 4 day tramp easy drive from CHCH

@Waynowski - thanks for that, my last post was actually for Penny Pass, so great you've affirmed that. I had considered Trudge Col, but I imagine that might have a lot of snow still in November?

ask doc closer to the time about the avalanche risk on trudge col. not a lot of snow this winter but a late dump can change everything if you do trudge col, if coming from the poulter side, once across the col, go across the scree on the left side, right to the end of the scree slope on the other side where it ends beneath the rock face. you can't see it till you get to it but there is a ledge around the corner and you follow that as far as you can, you might need some long cord to lower your packs down, there is a short climb to get off the ledge onto the next scree slope that takes you down to the river, you cant see from the top but its a big hanging valley and that ledge is the easiest way around the massive rock bluffs. my photos are on film so i cant put them online, you cant see the lower scree slope till you get to the ledge. the river is a bit of a grovel sidle, nothing vertical though http://www.avalanche.net.nz/forecasts/detail.asp?m=1

trudge col from the hawdon side , you can make out the details of what i've said, the upper scree slope the bluffs and the strip of scree running diagonally from the right down to the valley... http://img.geocaching.com/cache/large/f3c49cf8-b468-4531-9781-3d25643540ca.jpg