Post by AussieSurvival on Jun 15, 2009 16:20:43 GMT 9.5
Time: 2 Days (In Total It Was 10-11 Hours/ Depending how fast you walk)
Distance: 20km
Fitness: EM
Skill: EM
Ascent: 810m
Maps: LPI Jamison 8930-II-N 1:25000 LPI Katoomba 8930-I-S 1:25000
This a Picture from the golden stairs viewing the ruined castle and mt solitary ^^ - - or a bigger version:-->i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo295/australiasurvival/map.jpg
What Is This Walk?
Mt Solitary is an isolated sandstone plateau easily visible from Echo Point that stands alone in the Jamison Valley below Katoomba. From its far side there are excellent views of Lake Burragorang and the Blue Breaks and Broken Rock Range beyond. The traverse from one side to the other is a worthwhile weekend walk for any walker, while still suitable for less experienced bushwalkers.
Where Do You Start?
The Mt Solitary walk starts at the Golden Stairs car park on Narrow Neck, south of Katoomba and finishes at Queen Victoria Hospital at Wentworth Falls.
The best way to do this, is to have a car shuffle, Leave one car at Queen Victoria Hospital at Wentworth Falls. Drive the other to Katoomba. Head along Cliff Dr from Scenic World in Katoomba. After passing several lookouts, turn left into Glenraphael Dr, which immediately turns into a dirt road. Follow the road out along Narrow Neck, and after about 2km park at the parking area at the top of the Golden Stairs.
Or you can walk 4km from Katoomba Station to the Golden Stairs, and 5km from Queen Victoria Hospital to Wentworth Falls Station on the second day. You should also have mobile reception to ring for a taxi on the second day from Queen Victoria Hospital, or from the top of the hill past the hospital.
Basic Track Notes:
Start at the Golden Stairs car park, head down the the descend steeply and quickly to the Federal Pass walking track below which takes about 15mins. You will see a sign, turn right at the track junction and head along the track towards the Ruined Castle. The track passes into deep rainforest, with giant tree ferns and coachwood abounding. After some distance the forest opens out with large eucalypts.
About 2.5km/30mins along the trail you reach a junction, with a sign to the right to the Ruined Castle Steep Hard Climb, and another noting that the track is in very poor condition. Head up this track. It climbs quickly up to a saddle, and then left to the top of the ridge, where it continues relatively gently to a large collection of rocky boulders, around 30mins to get there. This is the Ruined Castle, and a good spot to climb up to for morning tea break, or possibly an early lunch.
Continue along the track down the other side of the Ruined Castle ridge to where it rejoins the main track not far from the saddle at Cedar Gap. From there the path heads up, and some easy scrambles are required as you climb Koorowall Knife-edge. Keep to the middle of the ridge as much as possible to avoid false tracks that drop off the sides. About 1.5km/45mins of climbing gets you to the first summit, topped by a grove of casuarinas. You can camping here, but i reckon you should push on and get a bit more distance.
Fifteen minutes or less you drop down into a saddle. This is Chinamans Gully. If you head to the left, there are a number of overhangs that can be used for camping. Unfortunately they have been degraded over the years and there is often rubbish littering the area. Water used to be reliably obtained here, but the recent drought has made this less so. It should probably be filtered due to the number of people camping upstream.
A short track to the south from here leads to a lookout, with views of Lake Burragorang. This is a worthwhile detour with outstanding views. There are two other lookouts marked on the map that are less visited.
It is probably still worth pushing on for another couple of kilometres/1hr 30mins to camp. The track generally follows the north wall of the mountain, and you cross the summit along the way. Shortly after this, you drop down to a rocky outcrop with excellent views of the walls around Katoomba and Leura. There is a ovvious camping area here near the Singajingawell Creek (creek water should be boiled) if you camp here its a 1 hour walk to the log book, but if your feeling good still keep heading along the track for another 45mins and theres another spot for camping but not sure if theres any creek around this area.
Next morning, continue along the track to the eastern edge of Mt Solitary. Here you should find the log book, and just to the north is the Col, the descent route off this side. Scramble/slide down the gully that leads down the steepest parts. 1 Hour eventually reaching the Kedumba River at the sharp bend.
Cross the river at this point and fill up on water if necessary. The Kedumba River used to be quite polluted, but is now much improved. However, it is probably advisable to treat water obtained from it.
Head to the obvious ridge that runs north east from this point, eventually meeting the dirt road it takes about 1 Hrs. The track along the ridge is excellent and well graded. Turn right and follow the road for 400m to an intersection, at which you should turn left.
Continue along the dirt road up hill for about another 4km/1hr 20mins to the hospital. If you have not left a car here you can call for a taxi from the hospital, do the 5km/2hrs walk to Wentworth Falls, or try and hitch a ride.
There is a Longview garden centre at the top of tableland road which sells drinks and ice creams, then continue up the great western highway to wentworth falls train station.
Distance: 20km
Fitness: EM
Skill: EM
Ascent: 810m
Maps: LPI Jamison 8930-II-N 1:25000 LPI Katoomba 8930-I-S 1:25000
This a Picture from the golden stairs viewing the ruined castle and mt solitary ^^ - - or a bigger version:-->i385.photobucket.com/albums/oo295/australiasurvival/map.jpg
What Is This Walk?
Mt Solitary is an isolated sandstone plateau easily visible from Echo Point that stands alone in the Jamison Valley below Katoomba. From its far side there are excellent views of Lake Burragorang and the Blue Breaks and Broken Rock Range beyond. The traverse from one side to the other is a worthwhile weekend walk for any walker, while still suitable for less experienced bushwalkers.
Where Do You Start?
The Mt Solitary walk starts at the Golden Stairs car park on Narrow Neck, south of Katoomba and finishes at Queen Victoria Hospital at Wentworth Falls.
The best way to do this, is to have a car shuffle, Leave one car at Queen Victoria Hospital at Wentworth Falls. Drive the other to Katoomba. Head along Cliff Dr from Scenic World in Katoomba. After passing several lookouts, turn left into Glenraphael Dr, which immediately turns into a dirt road. Follow the road out along Narrow Neck, and after about 2km park at the parking area at the top of the Golden Stairs.
Or you can walk 4km from Katoomba Station to the Golden Stairs, and 5km from Queen Victoria Hospital to Wentworth Falls Station on the second day. You should also have mobile reception to ring for a taxi on the second day from Queen Victoria Hospital, or from the top of the hill past the hospital.
Basic Track Notes:
Start at the Golden Stairs car park, head down the the descend steeply and quickly to the Federal Pass walking track below which takes about 15mins. You will see a sign, turn right at the track junction and head along the track towards the Ruined Castle. The track passes into deep rainforest, with giant tree ferns and coachwood abounding. After some distance the forest opens out with large eucalypts.
About 2.5km/30mins along the trail you reach a junction, with a sign to the right to the Ruined Castle Steep Hard Climb, and another noting that the track is in very poor condition. Head up this track. It climbs quickly up to a saddle, and then left to the top of the ridge, where it continues relatively gently to a large collection of rocky boulders, around 30mins to get there. This is the Ruined Castle, and a good spot to climb up to for morning tea break, or possibly an early lunch.
Continue along the track down the other side of the Ruined Castle ridge to where it rejoins the main track not far from the saddle at Cedar Gap. From there the path heads up, and some easy scrambles are required as you climb Koorowall Knife-edge. Keep to the middle of the ridge as much as possible to avoid false tracks that drop off the sides. About 1.5km/45mins of climbing gets you to the first summit, topped by a grove of casuarinas. You can camping here, but i reckon you should push on and get a bit more distance.
Fifteen minutes or less you drop down into a saddle. This is Chinamans Gully. If you head to the left, there are a number of overhangs that can be used for camping. Unfortunately they have been degraded over the years and there is often rubbish littering the area. Water used to be reliably obtained here, but the recent drought has made this less so. It should probably be filtered due to the number of people camping upstream.
A short track to the south from here leads to a lookout, with views of Lake Burragorang. This is a worthwhile detour with outstanding views. There are two other lookouts marked on the map that are less visited.
It is probably still worth pushing on for another couple of kilometres/1hr 30mins to camp. The track generally follows the north wall of the mountain, and you cross the summit along the way. Shortly after this, you drop down to a rocky outcrop with excellent views of the walls around Katoomba and Leura. There is a ovvious camping area here near the Singajingawell Creek (creek water should be boiled) if you camp here its a 1 hour walk to the log book, but if your feeling good still keep heading along the track for another 45mins and theres another spot for camping but not sure if theres any creek around this area.
Next morning, continue along the track to the eastern edge of Mt Solitary. Here you should find the log book, and just to the north is the Col, the descent route off this side. Scramble/slide down the gully that leads down the steepest parts. 1 Hour eventually reaching the Kedumba River at the sharp bend.
Cross the river at this point and fill up on water if necessary. The Kedumba River used to be quite polluted, but is now much improved. However, it is probably advisable to treat water obtained from it.
Head to the obvious ridge that runs north east from this point, eventually meeting the dirt road it takes about 1 Hrs. The track along the ridge is excellent and well graded. Turn right and follow the road for 400m to an intersection, at which you should turn left.
Continue along the dirt road up hill for about another 4km/1hr 20mins to the hospital. If you have not left a car here you can call for a taxi from the hospital, do the 5km/2hrs walk to Wentworth Falls, or try and hitch a ride.
There is a Longview garden centre at the top of tableland road which sells drinks and ice creams, then continue up the great western highway to wentworth falls train station.
