Crossbow Saddle provides a crossing between the Sinclair River and the Rakaia River, and also to the Lawerence River via Musterers Col and to Battleaxe Col and routes on The Warrior.
From the Sinclair River, climb straightforward rock and snow to the saddle. Battleaxe Col is reached by heading north-west across snow and ice slopes. To reach the Rakaia River, follow Kirk Stream as far as a small side creek draining the south side of Prelude Peak. Do not continue down Kirk Stream. Instead, climb to a small saddle south of Prelude Peak, head east, and follow the spur which leads down from Pt 1753 metres, reaching the Rakaia River at the east end of Lyell Lake.
From the head of Kirk Stream, the saddle is reached via a narrow hanging valley and leads to a straightforward descent on rock and snow into the Sinclair valley.
in association with the Canterbury Mountaineering Club