Route Choices

[Stijn Laenen]

Here's a topic where we can all debate about the "optimal" route to take. I've got my route in a .kmz (google earth) file so if anyone wants it - gimme a shout.

So, to get the ball rolling, here's a finicky route choice:

I just got back from a lekker 3-day berg hike (up Cockade Pass, down Camel). Never had such perfect winter conditions - the berg was still green! Blue skies all 3 days, not too cold and just enough snow to spark a snowfight or two. Also got to stay in one of the best spots around, Roland's Cave - man I never get tired of that place. Anyway, enough rambling and back to the topic at hand:

There's a path which drops down the face of the escarpment using a gully near the Elephant and rejoins the escarpment near Cockade Pass. This eliminates a 100-150m climb over the escarpment hill behind the Elephant. I've never actually walked this path but it could be a good option to a) reduce the climb in that section and/or b) reduce exposure to lightning should there be a thunderstorm at the time. If, however, it's rough or slow, it's probably not worth it. Do you guys know which path I'm referring to and have you got any idea what it's like?

[Bruce Arnett]

I know it and it is the way I traverse that section of the berg because there is a path there and it cuts down significantly on the climb- definitely quicker than over the top. Bruce

[Andrew Porter]

Hello

I have a route in format for a Garmin GPS. Feel free to ask if you want a look.

It is much the same as Stijn's, except that I plan to leave the Khubelu river a little earlier, following the route on the Slingsby maps. There is a lot of choice crossing the Senqu river as well.

[Gary Mortimer]

Obviously having many points to travel through or gates would make looking for anyone easier.

They dont need to be manned, especially if I make sure that each point is visible to some sort of radio tracking.

I know Nic has lots of route options and opinions.

A .kmz and Garmin compatible version to download from here would seem the right way to go.

I feel a route commitee coming on.

Task to be complete by the end of this month.

Only then having published a route will all the arguing begin ;-)

G

[Laura Forster]

A published (i.e. single, decided, must-be-followed-by-everybody) route? Er...have I missed something somewhere?
Apart from hitting the 6 peaks between the designated start and finish, surely all other route choices are at own discretion?

[Nic Shaw]

I agree with Laura; no fixed route for a few reasons:
1 - making the route is half the fun
2 - different folsk prefer different terrain...Andrew likes ridges, I like valleys and contouring
3 - skills in route planning and map and landscape interpretation are part of the deal

The route I have is a Garmin GPS file & I am happy to post it here for folks to look at. Andrew's route was a great help to me & mine is quite similar. gary, how do we post routes on here?

One piece of advice...on one of my 1st training runs Deon & I went from Sani top to my place via Thabana Ntleyana and Giant's Pass. After Thabana we headed back towards the escarpment and encountered some really nasty climbs and drops behind Reddy. i would advise using the deep valleys inland rather; much quicker. A word of caution...I was ice climbing behind Giant's this weekend and saw a major dope train coming from these valleys and heading down a pass I didn't even know existed, south of Eastern Gully. Latest evidence is that there is a major dope trafficking route between Mokhotlong and SA in this area.

[Stijn Laenen]

Berg Record Route.kmz

Well here's my route for interest/ideas. I might still make a few modifiactions and alternate route suggestions are most welcome! I strongly agree that the only compulsory points should be the 6 peaks and Thamatu Pass as per the record rules.

[Laura Forster]

Maybe Gary is thinking ahead to that suggestion of a staged race in the future: all his ideas and comments would be highly appropriate then. But this time around it's all the rules, and only the rules that Gavin raced by, including the ones that affect route choices, that will shape a valid attempt on the record. There's no committees or decisions required - the parameters are already clear. We've just decided to go at the same time.
What's so cool is that there is keen competition, but a great sense of support, running strongly through all these threads and comments. But, it's also good to remember that anyone on or off this blog site can and will try to bag the record any time it suits them, with or without reference to what's going on here.

[Bruce Arnett]

Just a suggestion that the admin inclined enthusiast might want to get involved with is setting this record attempt event up with Guinness, meeting their criteria for having them recognise the record as an official Guinness record. If these exist for Land's End to John O' Groats in England, (They do) then why not the Berg Traverse?

[Bobby Stanton]

I hiked the Grand Traverse from south to north in early May with a party of 12 from the Mountain Backpackers Club, Durban. We took the inland route from Thabana Ntlenyana to Giants Pass via the Mkhotlong river valley. From Umkomaas Pass (where we camped) to Giants Pass turned out to be 27 km and having done the route via Redi in 2007, from north to south, I would definitely not do the inland route again. Although you have to cross two or three ridges, the Hawk-Tent/Redi/Hlatimba Pass route is shorter. If anyone need information, maps or tracklogs for any of the entire route let me know. I am a GIS consultant and have the software and the spatial information.
btw. The dagga runners were going down Elandshoek Pass. They have been using that route for years and it is an easy way to Loteni or the Kamberg Valley. If you don't bug them they won't bug you. We usually take some cigarettes or sweets to offer them if we come face to face. They prefer Camels. Much better than their usual Boxer tobacco hand rolled ones. We came face to face with a group of them returning up Thlanyaku Pass (Didima area) in April.

[Nic Shaw]

Hi Bobby

I find it suprising you prefer the escarpment route; I'll try the inland route on my next training run. Do you have the co-ords for the top of Elandshoek Pass & more detail on it's access to the Kamberg Valley?