Any news on Andrew P's attempt?

[Stijn Laenen]

He's been going for 28 hours now so could be practically anywhere :-) Anyone get any SMSes from him???

[Andrew Porter]

I also saw the contour path - it is a large part of my decision to change route next time

[Andrew Hagen]

Ah, I see. We actually did more or less the straight line you're suggesting, and found a contouring path at about 2920m on the Tsolo slope which was useful for about 20min.

[Andrew Porter]

untitled.JPGA picture is probably the easiest way to answer that one. The area shown is the lower slopes, with intended and followed route shown. Next time, I will take a line almost straight between the waypoints named 'Stream5' and 'Tsolo'.

Looking forward to the trip report

[Andrew Hagen]

That is a highly impressive effort Andrew! Feeling "a little tired" at Sani is quite acceptable ;-) I will follow the next one with great interest. One of these days, when I can find the motivation to condition myself, I'd love to have a crack at the fast and light running approach. I agree that sub-40 is on for a strong trail runner, barring injury.

So what happened at Thabana? Did you go left around the base of Thaba Putsoa instead of straight across its ridges?

Incidentally, for the more "sensible" folks around here I'll have a trip report and some other details of our December traverse online in the next day or so...

[Malcolm Millar]

Well done Andrew. That is a stunning time to Sani.

[Andrew Porter]

For the first time, I actually feel that the fast-light weight approach has actually gotten anywhere. Just under 41.5 hours to Sani Pass, including the 6 summits! But, still 45 or so km short of the final goal. This is the first time that I have reached the half way mark, come out of the night in 1 piece, and the first time I have reached Mafadi in the attempt. To include Giants and Thabana Ntlenyana as well is a major step forward.

Started out really well - got as far as Champagne Castle (15hr 5min) at the 'required' pace of 5.2km/hr with eventual goal of 40hr in mind. The sun was still shining! Reached Mafadi about 22:30, so under 19 hours total time thus far. At this point, I was about 5 hours faster than the attempt with Bruce in November.

Coming down Mafadi in the dark is really hard going. I slowed down here a lot and eventually decided to bivvy for a few hours, partly because I was worried about dogs in the dark (every kraal I passed along the way was occupied and had the obligatory dogs). I got going again at 3:45am and set off up the Jarateng valley. Giants was disappointingly covered in mist, so I missed the view. I have never done the Giants - Thabana Ntlenyana strech before, and this turned out to be a lot longer than anticipated. I think that mentally it was a big ask to do the rather committing strech just after coming through the night. Eventually reached Sani Top Chalets at 21h20, feeling a little tired. I did find a way of shortening the grind up to Thabana Ntlenyana by an estimated 60 minutes from what I did on Saturday, which will help a lot next time.

After this attempt, I finally feel that the fast - lightweight approach might work. Needs some adjustment to the headspace to allow for 2 nights out there, or at least 1 and a half. the 2 full days are not exactly give aways either, but that is now at lest known ground. I also need to find a way to go faster in the dark - it just shuts you down. Better fitness can only help on day 2, but the only way to train for this is to grind your way up and down berg hills/valleys. i.e. go out and do it.