Solo on Solitary

Looking west to Mt Solitary and Narrowneck across the Jamison

Training in the Upper Blue Mountains has got to be one of the most spectacular places in NSW where you could spend a day suffering. A circuit of Mt Solitary and the Jamison Valley via Kedumba Pass is no exception. The day started cold - the rain of the week before had gone - the sky was blue and the air temperature a balmy 2 degrees. The westerly wind meant that the windchill was well below zero. A cracking start to a big day out. 

The walls of Kedumba Pass

A 700m descent off the couch got the knees a bit wobbly - then came the East Summit of Mt Solitary - a thigh burning ascent of 700m - straight up from the Jamison River. A crossing of Solitary is always stunning - cliffs and mountain views abound. 

On top of Mt Solitary

The North Walls of Solitary

The Ruined Castle track takes you below the majesty of the Landslide then onto tourist land below the Three Sisters. After this you are on your own to cross the Jamison. 

Below Ruined Castle

Crossing the Landslide

The Northern Walls of Mt Solitary - last light

About here, the light disappeared and the cold intensified. Steeply down to Leura creek - steeply up and over into Jamison River and then the lovely leg snapping 700m climb up Kedumba to finish. 10 hrs - a coupla 1000m metres of climbing and 40km of stunning terrain - a great day out training.

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