Don’t know if this helps, but I have gone from the Eastern Hutt up a bush spur and onto the ridge between Quoin and Alpha, which was reasonably straightforward
Hi Helen
I’m a TTC member – hope you don’t mind a contributing comment from a non-member.
About 4 years ago i dropped into the E. Hutt from Hell’s gate – steep to start but no major dramas. Once in to the water course itself there was one compulsory sidle [at the time necessitated by water flow in a narrow space] which was done on steep slopes on the true left – this was well upstream from the cairn that marks the spur up to Alpha Hut .
Enjoy