Pickering Point Byangee walls ascent advice

[jackhinde]

Anyone who has ascended this point fancy saving me some time and giving me some pointers?
I am planning to traverse Byangee walls on friday.
Additionally, how difficult is the pass on the eastern side of the castle to find/complete? Time allowing we might attempt this to get in a castle ascent the next day.

[Grabeach]

Re Cooyoyo Pass (Castle east side lower cliff line). Refer to my response to "Budawangs Question" topic dated 31/12/11 - currently on Pg. 8.
Shoulder / neck and now knee problems have prevented me doing it again. I still haven't found any other reference to it nor heard of anyone else doing it.

[jackhinde]

Thanks, I had found your description. I actually know someone who has done it but she is incommunicado at present… silly me for leaving it to the last minute to gather beta.
Anyone with hints for Pickering point? I found Warren's description on here but that is it.

[Matt88]

Hey Jack, did you complete the walk over Byangee? I was hoping to traverse it this weekend, but only have track notes for the ascent from castle gap. I was wondering if you have any advice for the ascent/descent of pickering point?
Cheers

[WarrenH]

Matt, G'day. Sorry Mate, I hope that I'm not too late with my reply, after receiving your note. I only saw your note this evening (10th April).

This is how we traversed Byangee Walls, on a Canberra Bushwalking Club jaunt. We kept to the 'blade' of Pickering Point as often as possible. Basically, consider the climb as stepping-up onto the next terrace with a bit of simple zig-zagging, then onto the next, and then onto the next terrace. Basically, head-up the way that looks right.

From the river we went straight up the spur to be right below Pickering Point. It was evident how to continue, until we reached the first obstacle, a narrow chute (only about 4-5 metres chimneying, we used rope to haul the packs) to the next level (terrace). The chute wasn't too difficult. Again, we kept heading up the sharp end of the point, until we reached a wall (about 3 metres high). One bloke climbed it and with his help we then helped each other make it. Before we reached the top, not far from the top, we headed around the right again, and then not too far along we ascended and made the plateau. One of the aspects of the Budawangs is, when anyone goes anywhere, it shows. The use-ware on the rocks describes the route. The track across the bute is evident and almost flat. At the pinch, the narrows, it is only about 6 metres across and spectacular.

The descent was almost right off the point above Castle Gap. Again we came back on ourselves, on the right, but not too far back. After reaching the next level, only dropping down a few metres from the summit, we then headed around to the left until we came to the cavern, keep going left, you can't miss it. It is most evident. We descended in the cavern, it was wet and slippery then, and we shimmied down (inside the mountain, just crazy stuff) on our backsides until the rock face ended. Then we headed back around to the right, to above Castle Gap, and simply scrambled down to the saddle. Or it felt simple. The day before we climbed Byangee walls, we had climbed the Castle, walked through Monolith, climbed and then descended over the sharp end of Shrouded Gods to the river. This was one of the most enjoyable walks that I've done. If not the most enjoyable, of all time.

Have a great walk Mate.

Nick Croft at the end of the descent .. reaching Castle Gap.



I'll find some more shots.

~Warren.

[kellera]

I was at Pickering Point last year but the fires had burnt out a few of the handline ropes there so was tricky to navigate up from the bottom but do-able if your a good climber and have a rope for a handline for the next person. In the end only climbed about half way up and then back to Clyde River and to the main Camp near the bridge. Then 6 months later went back again but from the top (up from The Castle Yadboro access trail. Had a look around at the top so it was obvious you would need a sturdy fixed thick handline for safety as a minimum (and someone else who is experienced too).