Mt Caley

Heading out.

With the weather in NSW a mixture of floods and total fire bans, most of the national parks (e.g. Culgoa), are closed to overnight camping. We decided to do a series of day walks to get out of the house.

Mt Caley is a small mountain, (in fact some of my NZ and European friends would say "hill"), located to the east of Mount Banks. The walk is a 7 km easy trail with spectacular views into the Grose Valley. Many of the highlights of previous walks can be seen from the vantage point of Banks wall. The bush was busy with the sound of lewins honey eaters, lyre birds, Superb fairy wrens and thornbills.

Mt Caley through the trees?
The bush varies from open scrub to more rainforest sections along the more protected sides of Mount Banks. There is a water tank when you approach Banks Wall but my advice is to carry enough yourself and, if you do use the water in these tanks use a water purification system anyway. Back in the 1970's I drank from one of these tanks and was violently ill. I could only assume a frog or a possum (or something) had fallen in and died. Its an experience I would not forget.

Approaching the lookout.

From this point the track deteriorates, and follows a valley to the left. Its not too long before an intersection appears. A short stroll to the top for some more spectacular views. I had taken my Sigg stove and David and I enjoyed a cup of tea and later a chicken soup. Here we Spotted Welcome Swallow and Nankeen Kestrel, as well as numerous spectacular waterfalls.

My favorite stove- the Sigg!

After a shot rest the walk back to the car park proved to be just as enjoyable.

HAPPY NEW YEAR everybody! I have a good feeling about 2010!