Grays Pass

Hi all, 

My friend and I want to take on this route which we found online:

Day 1: Monks Cowl --> Keiths Bush (Stay overnight)
Day 2: Climb and descend Grays Pass
Day 3: Back to Monks Cowl via Keartlands Pass

My questions are this:

1) Is this route marked?
2) Is this route safe? 
3) How difficult is this route?

Thanks all! Looking forward to your responses!

Hi Sean,

I only have time for a quick response right now but I've done this particular route multiple times over the years so here goes.

The route is marked on both types of maps available right now but I would recommend GPS tracks if you have a device because the path is not always clear in the valley leading to KBC and there are various tricky points on the high path in the pass where you can go off the route and get into trouble by getting onto steep sections that are dangerous.

This leads to your 2nd question about safety. It basically depends on your level of skill and experience but there are objectively dangerous sections of the path high up. In high winds you can also be blown off the path near the top section which has some steep drop offs. If you've done high altitude hikes in the Berg before, you should be accustomed to this and will know to be careful and protect yourself in the right way by moving carefully. In winter there can be some 'ice' issues but that shouldn't apply until April or later..

So how hard is it? Well, it's 20km or so both ways which is a good day in the mountains for a properly fit person. The main issue with mountain fitness is that it doesn't compare well to other forms of fitness and it harder than expected if you carry heavy packs. To give you a benchmark based on running fitness, I would say this hike is fine for people who run more that 20km per week. If your training equivalent is less than this, you may still do it but then you are going to suffer a lot. The other side is strength conditioning which is key for going uphill with a pack and a baseline would be 3 to 4 hours per week to be reasonably fit for this route.

All that said, if you're young enough and just active enough, this route isn't very technical and is doable by a healthy strong person that is able to walk for 8 hours or more in a day but don't forget the backpack! (try to keep this to 15kg or less..)

Hi Sean,

Welcome on VE!!!

I can confirm ASL's advice above. I just want to add a bit to your question relating to route markings etc.

There is a path pretty much all the way from Moncs Cowl up to Keith Bush Camp. It's slightly sketchy where you drop into the riverbed for the last 3km's or so of uphill slog to KBC, but you'll be able to get back on the path easily should you wander off it for whatever reason. The path basically keeps close to the stream on your left-hand side as you ascend, so keep this in mind. Right towards the end it can get a bit confusing, however, it's easy to understand where you need to go. Just aim for the large screefield up ahead, and as you eventually go through it, KBC is to your left, next to the river, by some (relatively) large trees.

The pass itself can be problematic if you are unsure of the route as there are multiple paths you can take, and not all of them necessarily lead to where you want to go. Let me describe it fo ryou so you know where to go if you are unsure. I basically break the pass up into 3 sections.

Section 1 is from the bottom of the pass to the first natural resting spot after about 230m of vertical gain. You will see a flat section to your left that you will naturally be drawn towards if you are feeling a bit tired at this point. It offers good views over KBC and the entire valley section.

Section 2 is the (possibly) confusing section. It's the part between the end of section 1 and the cliff face (start of section 3). This is the steepest section of the pass. You will be faced with basically 2 options. You will either take a path to the LEFT of a rocky section, or you will stay on the right of the rocky section. I have done both, and have taken dead end athe on the LEFT side. Never gotten lost if I stayed on the RIGHT hand side. I've had to hop over to get onto the right hand side a few times, and on my last hike found the best route on the left which naturally gets onto the right hand side without having to do any rock crawling, which I prefer now, but I would advise you to stay on the path on the RIGHT as it's near impossible to get lost with it. I don't like it as it loses altitude and then you have to climb back up again, but the path is clear and unmistakable on the right, so take it.

Section 2's second problematic part is now getting close. As you approach the cliff face, there will come a section where the path turns sharply to the left. However, even though there is a cairn to mark this sport, the lie of the land and the clearer section of path will turn right here. It's up a +/- 2m steep sction wich turns right at the top. The path then immediately flattens out and you walk perpendicular to the cliff face. You will find yourself surronded by like a brown, short, and fine type of grass for the first 15m or so. This is the wrong path. Turn back and take the left hand turn, which climbs up and then traverses above this incorrect path you were on. If you persist on the right turn incorrect path you will eventually get cliffed out. I manage to climb out but it was a scetchy climb andI had to do it in the wet, which I would not do again. MUCH easier to just reverse your tracks and take the correct part. Even knowing the beforementioned info, on my last Grays pass hike I again!!!! took this right hand turn, but when I saw the fine fluffy brown patch of grass (it's distinctly different from the rest of the area) I realised my mistake and turned around.

Section 3 is now up ahead. Once you get to the base of the cliff face, the path takes you westwards into a rocky gully. turn left, up, and 50m asl later you will be at the top of Grays pass.

Hope my visual description helps you to get to the top easily

Hi Sean, there is a good thread on Grays pass in the passes section, with lots of pictures and advice, i would advise reading it here:

grays pass thread

Pay special  attention to the notes on finding the correct turn off to the pass when descending from the escarpment. this is a place where people have gotten themselves into some serious trouble by descending too far down the gully,  and there have been fatalities.

Besides that it is fairly straight forward and enjoyable pass in my opinion.

I found 2 images that should help you ensure you are on the right track Sean.

After getting through the final rock band just before the start of section 3 (cliff face to the top), this is what you should be seeing. Note the path on the left of the protruding rock.

 

And then a view showing more of the final rock band.