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Drakensberg -
Passes
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Friday, 27 August 2010 12:10 |
Even though this pass uses the Organ Pipes Pass final gully to access the escarpment, it ascends to the final gully via a completely different ridge, the Camel Ridge. There are spectacular views to be seen on both sides of this ridge as you weave between the peaks as you climb higher. It is marked as difficult/dangerous on the official maps but there should only be a cause for concern in extremely icy conditions.
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Drakensberg -
Passes
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Thursday, 12 August 2010 08:24 |
This is the easiest pass in the Cathedral Peak area and is very convenient to access the escarpment in a short weekend hike. The climb along the ridge gives great views of both the Cathedral and Cathkin ridges and the Old Fire Lookout must be one of the best settings for a hut in the entire Drakensberg. This pass is great to use during your first trip to the escarpment due to its relative ease and easy navigation.
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Lesotho -
General
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 15:52 |
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The first half of 2010 saw gaining momentum in the second phase of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP), which involves the building of Polihali dam some 5km downstream of the confluence of Khubelu and Senqu rivers, in Mokhtolong District.
Construction of the 165m high / 2.2 billion cubic meter dam (the R7.3 billion cost being payed for by South Africa) is set to start in 2012 and will take about 5 years. Water should flow into South Africa in 2018. Costs will also cover infrastructure and compensation of 13 000 families that will be re-located to other areas.
Water from this dam will also be directed to the Vaal River, as with Phase I of the project (which involved the building of Katse and Mohale Dams, as well as Muela Hydro-power Station). Additional hydro-power will also be part of the project, which the Lesotho government will be paying for. It will supplement their own power grid and could also be exported.
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Drakensberg -
Passes
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Wednesday, 14 July 2010 11:30 |
This pass follows a spectacular route up the Tseketseke River and gully alongside the Pyramid and the Column. Even though it has similar route details to Mlambonja Pass (see above), the upper grassy slopes are a lot steeper and make this pass feel as if it belongs in the Mnweni area. The beautiful river section and stunning views near the top make this a classic Drakensberg Pass.
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Nepal -
General
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Wednesday, 25 August 2010 14:18 |
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For the second time in recent years, a plane headed for Lukla crashed in the mountains, this time killing 3 crew members and 11 passengers, 6 of of them being foreign tourists. More on the previous disaster which happend in 2008 can be read here: Airplane crash on Everest route kills 18. Lukla is a popular jump-off point for the Everest trek and is one of the busiest airports in Nepal.
The pilot apparently reported generator failure en route to Lukla and decided to return, but the backup generator also later failed. Without cockpit avionics the plane would be flying blind in rugged terrain and heavy rain. The cause of the crash would seem to be a combindation of technical failure and bad weather.
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Drakensberg -
Climbing
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Friday, 23 July 2010 08:48 |
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WJ Wybergh and Lt NM McLeod first climbed the Sentinel via the standard route on 29 September 1910.
The KZN section of the mountain club of SA plans to celebrate this ascent on the weekend of the 4-5th September 2010. The idea is for as many people as possible to ascend the Sentinel via any route they wish on the morning of the 4th and then have a celebratory jol at the Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge that evening. (We are happy to provide top-ropes on the two pitches on the Standard route so you won’t need a climbing partner for standard route.)
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Tibet -
Peaks
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Tuesday, 20 July 2010 13:15 |
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In the wake of the controversial ascent of Everest by 13 year old Jordon Romero, China has set a new age limit in effect for the forthcoming season. Climbers must be at least 18 years old to climb any peak in Tibet. An upper age limit of 60 was also set, but with a loophole that a medical certificate stating the climbers fitness could be presented.
Nepal has only set a lower age limit of 16 years. Pemba Dorjee Sherpa, who holds the current speed record on Everest, has recently announced his intentions of training an 11 or 12 year old Nepalese boy, to beat Romero's record. It seems the Nepalese authorities may allow this attempt as an exception.
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Drakensberg -
Passes
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Thursday, 01 July 2010 15:46 |
Halfway between the more popular routes of Mlambonja Pass and Organ Pipes Pass lies the Xeni Cutback, a steep river valley with dramatic cliffs towering in all directions. There are two passes which climb up to the escarpment via this cutback. Xeni Pass, however, looks pretty mean and unlike Cockade Pass, probably deserves its "rock" affix. Cockade Pass is one of the most direct routes to the escarpment in the Cathedral Peak area and with its spectacular views and enclosure, one wonders why so few hikers see this secluded part of the Berg.
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Last Updated ( Thursday, 01 July 2010 15:49 )
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