High Approach

This alternative route on the east side climbs most of De La Beche Ridge (route 5.21 on topo) and is recommended in late summer.
From De La Beche Corner, ascend the moraine wall onto the lower ridge. The moraine wall is very steep below the old hut site. At least one party has reported a good spot (in 2015) about 400m further up the Tasman, at about BX16 777 747, which leads to the 1560m shelf at BX16 775 749. However, a large collapse from the terrace in November 2017 may have destroyed this. Try your best – everywhere is likely to be sketchy.
From there, head up the ridge to about 1900m, then traverse on the eastern snowslopes and basins to cross De La Beche Ridge about 500m south of Pt 2865m, then sidle across snow slopes to Graham Saddle. This avoids the lower Rudolf Glacier and rock rib. It may also be possible to avoid the icefall by traversing high above the true right, on slopes beneath Jervois and Aigrette.