Mt Bowen

Head up the Mikonui Valley to the Mikonui–Dickson confluence and pick up the locally maintained marked route a short way up the Dickson River. Follow this presently overgrown permolat track up to the tops and Mikonui Spur Biv (DOC, two-person). The ridge above to Mt Bowen offers reasonable travel with steep sections in the lower part. Higher up, an easy sidle on the south-west side avoids the more difficult ridge crest.

Mt Bowen can be traversed with packs to the Whitcombe Valley. From Mt Bowen, the rocky spur out past Sentinel Peak offers good travel down to J34 460909 / BV18 360 293, where there may still be an old marker post. Easy tussock travel then leads left to Noisy Stream and Basin. From the 1170-metre contour, leave Noisy Stream and sidle on the true left across benches and basins to J34 474922 / BV18 374 306. Descend the spur over a lower knoll directly down to join the marked route leading to the Whitcombe Valley. The lightly-marked route is followable with care, but deteriorates on forested flats near the river.