Bob was keen for a daywalk up the Blue Mountains. Our plan was to go to the Elphinstone (Radiata) Plateau near Katoomba to do some of the passes. However, as we head up the mountains, we were greeted by thick mist and light rain. Not the best weather for scrambling.
I suggested we keep going, and see if the weather was any better further along the mountain – e.g. at Mt Victoria. It was perhaps – slightly better. We set off behind the old Tollhouse, near where the Highway crosses the railway line, and walked down into Fairy Bower.
These walks are well described in “Great Walks at Mt Victoria” by Keith Paiter (see Mountain Mist Books). As well as a walks description, the book has a lot of interesting historical detail.
Bob climbing up to Coxs Cave
Fairy Bower, was very pleasant, being full of colourful ferns. We then climbed up a ladder, on a side trip to the Coxs Cave.
After exploring a ledge nearby, we retreated back down the ladder and then continued around the base of the cliffs to Dunns Leap. This is a curious feature. In 1908, a boy, named Dunn fell down to this point from high above – and survived! His trajectory is marked with a wire cable.
We then continued on along “Jack Austen Pass”. This is very rough route along the base of the cliffs, and it took us to the Mt Piddington climbing area.
We walked under all the well known climbs to Hocus Pocus at the western end, and continued on to link up with Rienits Pass. Most of this was easy going, except for one bit where we had to traverse on a loose ledge.
Back on a good track, we followed it down the valley, and then up again via the Little Zig Zag track, and up to the Bushrangers Cave for lunch.
Pulpit Rock
Next, we climbed the last part of the Little Zig Zag and then set off to Pulpit Rock and along the Rienits Pass track again, and then turned off to go up to Ross Cave. This was an interesting place, with a garden chair right in the cave.
Ross Cave
From there, it was not far to the road, and then a short road walk to Mt Piddington, where we picked up the track back to Fairy Bower via the Grotto.
This was a good walk on a wet and dull day. A few more photos are on my website here.
great photos but also could you do a video on cox’s cave and go up the ladder to show us the cave please