Straightforward. Often used as part of a packing route traversing The Gladiator to Douglas Pass, crossing between the Landsborough and Karangarua valleys.
From Horace Walker Hut, as for the north-west face route on The Gladiator (route 15.30), cross to the true left bank of the Douglas River; the best crossing is usually the lake outlet. Follow the stream beneath the east face of The Pommel to a fork, cross this and travel between the two branches a short distance and then re-enter the true left fork and follow it until a waterfall is reached at about 980m. Enter the bush on the true right in the splash zone of the waterfall, then follow a vague spur up to a bench with scattered scrub at about 1060m. Head left (north-east) about 100m, then bash uphill through scrub to a large flat-topped boulder. This boulder is a clear marker when descending this route. Pass around the east side of the boulder to reach open tops. Head straight up to 1200m, and then angle right as you approach 1300m.
There is a small cliff band above with two small guts, both of which provide good access to tussock slopes above. Sidle to the right through a small tussock basin at about 1430m to reach the creek draining Mt Howitt at 1460m.
Continue ascending the stream. Probably only feasible in early summer when the gully is full of snow.
