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Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass
Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass

Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass

Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass route starts at Mt Banks, descends into the Grose via Garrads Gulch, ascends Shaw Gully to Bylwes Pass and follows the cliff line on the South side of the Grose Valley to My Hay and the car park.

Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass route starts at Mt Banks, descends into the Grose via Garrads Gulch, ascends Shaw Gully to Byles Pass and follows the cliff line on the South side of the Grose Valley to Mt Hay and the car park. It has little exposure, requires a reasonable degree of route finding ability and a willingness to fight through little travelled undergrowth, particularly over Mt Caley.

Since the car shuffle is 55km each way, it’s possible that I’ll do it twice, but on seperate days - Mt Banks to the Grose & return, followed by Mt Hay to the Grose and return.

I’ll take a single walking pole for balance getting up and down Mt Caley, the Gulch and the Grose.

Route

I chose to start at the Mt Hay end first. Only getting down Byles Pass to the Grose before returning the same way.

Topographic view of Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass route

Mt Banks to Mt Hay via Byles Pass route

Flora

Orchids Orchids on Eastern side of Mt Hay. Behind is the route along the Mt Hay Range. The curved rocky ridge overlooks the Grose.

Hardenbergia Hardenbergia Violacea - one of the few species that has begun to regrow after the December 2019 fires.

Route

Mount Banks framed by a grass tree in flower

The double hump of Mount Banks framed by a grass tree in flower. The Grose lies between.

Booyong Crags

Booyong Crags in the skyline. The route going over the top of them and beyond.

Booyong Crags Ledge

This narrow and slightly exposed ledge on the Western side of Booyong Crags must be traversed to gain access to the top.

Grose River

Grose River at the base of Byles Pass.

Overhanging Rock plate resembles a bearded animal

Overhanging Rock plate close to Byles Pass resembles a bearded Tassie Devil ?

Byles Pass lower obstacle

There are two slightly tricky obstacles that require a small scramble to overcome in Byles Pass. In wet weather they may be slippery. Neither poses much difficulty under normal circumstances, with trival exposure.

Byles Pass upper obstacle

The upper obstacle is also a bit of a non-event.

Stats

20.8km
1000m of ascent expected. The Grose River is at 200m AMSL, and Mt Hay at 944m.

  • 27/08/2020