Passes (5) of the Upper Grose Valley FKT- Solo and Unsupported
58km & 3,872m+ Elevation
Set a new Male Unsupported time 12h:16m:44s (pending Verification)
Started at 7:15am with the intention of trying to finish in under 12hr. I made it back at 7:31pm (with about 10mins left of daylight)
Big shoutout to Marion Whitehead who created this route as a FKT back in 2025 and set the First Known and Female Unsupported Time.
Always one to enjoy giving a FKT a go, had seen this one recently and thought what a great route to run.
To complete this FKT, one has to visit all 5 open passes of the Upper Grose Valley. The only one that we’re unable to visit is Govetts Leap lookout, with Rodriguez Pass permanently closed due upgrades
(One that can be added in the future when reopened to make the 6 passes)
The 5 passes (in no given order) are:
1. Perry’s Lookdown
2. Lockley’s Pylon via Shortridge Pass
3. Evans Lookout via Horse Track
4. Pierce’s Pass
5. Mt Victoria Falls Pass
Basically you can start at any of the 5 locations, and heading into the Grose Valley one must reach the carpark (and Lockley’s Pylon Summit) of each pass and take a picture with the sign for verification before finishing back we’re one started.
I decided to start at Perry’s Lookdown, and whilst this was going to be the steepest to finish on, it meant I was into the valley in the shortest distance and at a central point to tackle all 5 passes.
My route took me to Lockley’s first as it was directly opposite and always good to tackle in the early morning shade.
Then headed up to Evans Lookout next. Once back at Acacia Flats it was time to head west up the river to do Pierce’s Pass then Mt Vic Falls pass last being the furthest point from the start.
From here with all passes reached, it was a matter of running back to Acacia flats and then the final push up Perry’s back to the car.
The day gave me everything, from being extremely hot and humid in the valley and on the exposed passes that seemed to suck all my energy from the legs, to being caught out in a storm to rival all storms, that hit me at the furthest point from the start up on Mt Vic falls pass and stayed with me all the way to the finish.
Just to add to the challenge of running back to the finish in the massive storm, I needed to get back before night hit as I realised when I went to get my head torch out that it was left back in the car (Rookie mistake not checking).
I powered home in the storm quicker than I expected to make it back up Perry’s in the last of the light to reach the finish about 10 mins before it became completely dark.
There nothing more that lets you know your really alive, than being out on your own in the middle of the remote bush in failing light and a massive storm that continued to put on the most brilliant show directly above you.
As this was done in my favorite style of solo and unsupported, I took everything I needed and collected water from all the streams along the way which I was thankful there was plenty of being so hot.
As a bonus with pushing hard up all the passes I even managed to get a personal best Strava time on the Horse Track to Evans Lookout, Lockley’s climb, Perry’s to Lockley’s and lastly back up Perry’s Lookdown at the end of the day.
This was my first Mount to Coast FKT adventure and was great to do a serious run in the T1’s which were perfect considering all the terrain and conditions I received.
Nutrition was:
Endless bottles of water (too many to remember)
5 bottles of Tailwind
2 gels + 1pk of Chews
1 sandwich + 1pk chips
Sour patch Lollies