Grave–Talbot

From the Gulliver River bridge on the Milford Road, a good track follows the true left bank to the junction with the Esperance River, where it climbs more steeply at first towards the head of the Esperance. At the bushline, cross a usually dry tributary creek and continue into the main riverbed. Follow the riverbed to the De Lambert Falls, which are best passed on the true right. Above the falls, a small creek bed on the true left leads up towards the lowest point on the ridge.
From the upper Esperance, it’s well worth taking time to identify the route to the pass. A daunting rock monolith bars the way up the ridge itself, but two ledge systems cross the steep face below. The upper ledges begin about 15m below the ridge at a bare patch that sometimes contains water – The Tarn. Follow these narrow ledges east on a gradual descent. This is the most exposed part of the crossing and some parties use a rope, belaying from the wire rope anchors (they are very old – use at your own risk). Directly below the pass is a sloping ledge of slightly paler rock in a dry watercourse. It’s a 240m climb from here, bearing at first to the left and then back right, to the pass (CB08 0186 3293).
From the pass, a level traverse across a snowfield (rock slabs later in summer) leads to a rock stairway that climbs to Lyttles Dip, an obvious notch in the ridge. Beyond the Dip, cross another snowfield (or rock slabs) and then a boulder field, veering left to the ridge and the top of Talbots Ladder. Locating Talbots Ladder can be tricky in poor visibility. Here too, the ancient metal bolts can be used as anchors if necessary on the descent to Homer Saddle.