David Noble Blog

This was a very interesting daywalk in the Narrow neck area of the Blue Mountains. Bob had suggested the trip – walk out along Narrow Neck to not far past the Second Neck – then descend part way down the Mitchells Ck Pass, and traverse the half way ledge to Black Billys Head.

The Rice Terrace

This half way ledge traverse was called the “Rice Terrace” by bushwalker Graeme Holbeach, after Don Rice and himself from Sutherland Bushwalking Club traversed it in September 1988. While they were on the traverse, the saw a possible pass to the north which they later checked out – this is now known as the “Rock Pile Pass”. There are quite a few other half way ledge traverses in the Blue Mountains. The half way ledge is the shale ledge (Mt York Claystone) that lies sandwiched between the two massive sandstone layers that together make up the Narrabeen Series of strata. Other places where it can be traversed are the well known National Pass at Wentworth Falls (currently closed due to unstable rock), The lower ledge on Mt Banks and also on Narrow neck – the walk under Diamond Spray Waterfall to the pass at the next headland. The longest of these traverses would be the one from the Three Brothers and Blacks Ladders between Medlow Bath and Katoomba. Continue reading →