Follow the ridge above the French Ridge Hut on a reasonable track to access Quarterdeck Pass (2,290m) to the side of Mt French and your first views of the mountain (or not at 2am!). Traverse the Bonar Glacier to the right hand side of the South West Ridge and begin ascending where the snow slopes allow. Teams coming from the Colin Todd Hut can access the ridge by its Western Flank beneath the rock band taking a diagonal rising traverse from the hut.

The ridge steepens up almost continuously moving from single axe terrain to two axes until, about 200 metres below the summit, a steep snow/ice couloir is reached which can sometimes be quite rocky. Depending on conditions, two to four pitches up to 80 degrees lead to the ice cap and thereafter the summit.

Descend the North West Ridge to where the angle eases after nearly 1km. The fastest descent is to follow the Ramp route down if the snow slope is complete, otherwise descend Kangaroo Step on the ridge, descending the steepest section on the West side of the ridge and head down the snow slopes to traverse to the Colin Todd hut.