This unmarked crossing (grade II, 1) involves a bit of scrub bashing but provides the most direct route between Christmas Flat and Horace Walker Huts. It may also provide good access onto the eastern Liberty Range.
Map
From the true left of the Douglas River on the lower end of the flats beneath The Pommel (BX15 525 573), start climbing up the true right side of the creek which drains a large shelf below Red Deer Col.
Where this stream forks, take the true left fork, and then soon afterwards climb out onto the true left bank, sidle across to the right (west) and angle up onto a spur. This takes you to a tussock bench on the lower part of the large shelf. From here, veer left (south) towards the creek coming out of the bluffs above, at approximately BX15 521 572. Begin up the creek then move right onto a shoulder on the true left. Follow a vague spur straight up to the upper tussock basin, which is sidled on the true left to reach the col.
Alternatively, the col can be accessed from the flats downstream from the Horace Walker confluence, which usually provide a good crossing of the Douglas River at their downstream end. After heading back up the true left bank, enter a gully flowing north-west off the 1000m scrub and tussock knob (beginning at BX15 516 579). Work your way onto the knob, turn right to climb through scrub up the small ridge above and then climb through a short section of bluffs to reach the edge of a tussock face at about 1140m (BX15 517 577). Ascend the slope then angle left below prominent bluffs join the route to the col at about 1450m.
To reach Christmas Flat, descend the gully directly below the col until 1340m, and then sidle right (west) onto the spur between Baking Oven and Driver Creeks. Descend to the scrub line, and then follow the true right branch of Baking Oven Creek (avoiding difficulties by bashing through scrub) all the way down to Christmas Flat.
Also described as Route 15K on the Karangarua River page.
The Douglas valley approaches to Red Deer Col, January 2010
