Archived trip from old website run by joshbax189
Last time we didn't quite make it, so this time we finish the job!
Expect hair-raising descents, thick scrub and lawyer vine. I've heard the Castle is quite nice though.
From Katoomba we follow Glenraphael drive for about 5km along Narrow Neck peninsular to Bushwalkers hill (great views!). From there we cross to Wall's pass and descend beneath the cliffs.
*** WARNING ***
Wall's pass is a very steep 10m descent by chain (as in you go down using the chain for support, hand-over-hand). It is quite exposed, so you will need a good head for heights. For comparison, the climbing wall at the gym is about 8m. However it is fairly safe, about on par with the scrambling on the Castle walk in the Budawangs.
As we are taking overnight packs we will use a rope to lower these separately, which should make for an easier descent.
We follow the cliffs north until we find a small gully which we follow down to Cedar creek. The route off the cliff line is hard to find among thick scrub and may take some time to negotiate.
There is a potential camp site at an overhang down in Cedar creek if needed. (See the notes for Wall's pass).
If that is the case then we will return via the Ruined castle track and the Golden stairs.
Hopefully though, we find the track and can make our way up the other side of the valley (thick scrub again) to intersect the Ruined castle track.
We follow this up the Koorowall Knife edge to make camp that night at Chinaman's gully under some overhangs.
There are two options for the second day:
If we have the cars we will park one along Kedumba valley road and spend the second day descending Mt Solitary, crossing the Kedumba river and exiting on the eastern side of the valley at Kedumba pass. This will be about 10km.
Otherwise we will follow the Ruined castle track back west to the Golden stairs and the car on Glenraphael drive (shorter option ~4km).
Distance: about 22km, Ascent: 1000m+
Logistics:
We will already be in Katoomba so participants will have to organise transport from Canberra.
Pre-trip is on Monday at Coffee grounds cafe, 5.30pm.
References:
Wall's pass: http://bushwalkingnsw.com/walk.php?nid=805
Mt Solitary track: http://bushwalkingnsw.com/walk.php?nid=237
Map: Jamison 1:25,000
As above. We will attempt the Mt Solitary traverse and exit at Kedumba pass as above.
If we can't navigate down from walls pass we will climb back up via chains and walk out on glenraphael drive.
If we can't make it up the northern ridge on Saturday we camp in cedar creek and try again Sunday then exit via golden stairs.
Last time we didn't quite make it, so this time we finish the job!
Expect hair-raising descents, thick scrub and lawyer vine. I've heard the Castle is quite nice though.
From Katoomba we follow Glenraphael drive for about 5km along Narrow Neck peninsular to Bushwalkers hill (great views!). From there we cross to Wall's pass and descend beneath the cliffs.
*** WARNING ***
Wall's pass is a very steep 10m descent by chain (as in you go down using the chain for support, hand-over-hand). It is quite exposed, so you will need a good head for heights. For comparison, the climbing wall at the gym is about 8m. However it is fairly safe, about on par with the scrambling on the Castle walk in the Budawangs.
As we are taking overnight packs we will use a rope to lower these separately, which should make for an easier descent.
We follow the cliffs north until we find a small gully which we follow down to Cedar creek. The route off the cliff line is hard to find among thick scrub and may take some time to negotiate.
There is a potential camp site at an overhang down in Cedar creek if needed. (See the notes for Wall's pass).
If that is the case then we will return via the Ruined castle track and the Golden stairs.
Hopefully though, we find the track and can make our way up the other side of the valley (thick scrub again) to intersect the Ruined castle track.
We follow this up the Koorowall Knife edge to make camp that night at Chinaman's gully under some overhangs.
There are two options for the second day:
If we have the cars we will park one along Kedumba valley road and spend the second day descending Mt Solitary, crossing the Kedumba river and exiting on the eastern side of the valley at Kedumba pass. This will be about 10km.
Otherwise we will follow the Ruined castle track back west to the Golden stairs and the car on Glenraphael drive (shorter option ~4km).
Distance: about 22km, Ascent: 1000m+
Logistics:
We will already be in Katoomba so participants will have to organise transport from Canberra.
Pre-trip is on Monday at Coffee grounds cafe, 5.30pm.
References:
Wall's pass: http://bushwalkingnsw.com/walk.php?nid=805
Mt Solitary track: http://bushwalkingnsw.com/walk.php?nid=237
Map: Jamison 1:25,000
As above. We will attempt the Mt Solitary traverse and exit at Kedumba pass as above.
If we can't navigate down from walls pass we will climb back up via chains and walk out on glenraphael drive.
If we can't make it up the northern ridge on Saturday we camp in cedar creek and try again Sunday then exit via golden stairs.
Trip category
Bushwalking
Date and Time
—
Estimated Costs
None