🏰 Blue Mountains: Ruined Castle via Furber Steps (~20km)

Join us for an incredibly scenic ~20km hike into the heart of the Blue Mountains! Starting with views of the iconic Three Sisters, this track rewards hikers with a glimpse into historic mining heritage and sweeping panoramas of the Blue Mountains National Park. Please note there are no exit options once we begin the descent, so good fitness and preparation are essential. Before you RSVP, be sure to read the full description: This event is hosted on TrekMeet (launching 11th October publicly https://trekmeet.com/), a hiking app I built with and for this community. It works offline when there's no signal on the trail, lets you record your own hike and follow my live location as we walk, and it's completely free: no ads, and your data is never shared with third parties. Please RSVP here, no waitlist. Our group is moving there in coming months. Difficulty and Terrain: Difficult. Expect a solid workout with significant climbs (including steep stairs) on rugged bush tracks. There are no early exit points once you are on the trail. Start / Finish: Meet outside Katoomba Station at 10:30 AM, Finish: Katoomba area around 5:00 PM followed by dinner. Route: We will begin our trek by descending the steep and scenic Furber Steps into the valley (note: walking from Katoomba Station adds about 3-4km to your total distance). Once on the valley floor, we will follow the Federal Pass Walking Track out to the Ruined Castle rock formation. For our return, we will tackle the steep climb back up via the Golden Stairs (please note our exact return route may vary slightly depending on conditions). Gratuity: A $5 contribution is appreciated to help cover our Meetup subscription and group running costs. Carry Cash or ask for PayID. Important: What to Bring: Wear proper hiking shoes, bring ample hydration and electolytes (Minimum 2 L of water- No refill available), pack enough snacks/lunch, sunscreen, hat, and weather protection, basic first-aid. RSVP responsibly – Treat it as a commitment; update or cancel 12–24 hrs before. Arrive early – All route/gear info is in the description; hosts can’t field messages during the event. Stay together – It's a volunteer-led community walk; keep the host in sight and let them know if you leave. Safety first – Your safety is your own responsibility! You agree to follow host instructions, public-health orders and OZ Outdoors guidelines: https://www.meetup.com/ozoutdoors Get involved – You're welcome to send the host feedback or let us know if you’d like to lead such walks. Connect with us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/ozoutdoors.syd LinkedIn (Manish): https://linkedin.com/in/manishpm/