Organ Pipes Pass - Camel Route |
| Drakensberg - Passes | ||||
| Friday, 27 August 2010 12:10 | ||||
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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. Rating: * * * (4/10) Difficulty of the pass is rated from 1-10 (10 being very difficult, only to be attempted by the fit and experienced). A subjective quality rating is indicated by the number of stars (1 being low, 5 being the highest). Factors such as scenic beauty and overall experience come into play here, which may differ from person to person. Access: There are many ways to access Camel Pass but the most direct route is to hike up Tryme Hill from the NPB Office. At the point where the Tryme Hill path joins the contour path, there is a path heading up the Camel Ridge. This is not the official route as marked on the maps but it joins the proper route after about 200m in altitude gain. The actual start of the pass is best accessed via the “waterfall route” from the hotel. It heads up the Camel Ridge just to the right (north) of the point where the Waterfall route joins the contour path. Details: The distance from the actual start on the contour path to the escarpment is 4km with an altitude gain of 900m. The direct access route has a distance of 5km from the contour path to the escarpment with an altitude gain of 1000m. Route: From the contour path, the path heads up the crest of the Camel Ridge. After about 200m of altitude gain, it levels out before zigzagging up the right-hand (northern) side of the ridge. The direct access path joins the actual route once the path levels out again and contours around the ridge to the left (south). This path starts climbing gradually again on the right-hand (northern) slopes of the Camel. Once the path has climbed around the Camel, a view of the Organ Pipes can be seen and the path contours around below Castle Buttress where a few exposed stream crossovers have to be negotiated. It then zigzags steeply up the slope before a short crack has to be climbed to give access to the Organ Pipes Pass final gully. After this short little scramble, a short slog will take you up to the escarpment at Windy Gap at 3000m. Finding the pass from the escarpment: The biggest gully heading over the escarpment edge between Cleft Peak and Ndumeni Dome is Organ Pipes Pass. It is marked with a clear path and a large cairn. About 100m down Organ Pipes Pass, the Camel Pass path branches off to the left (north). Overnight Spots: There is no good camping or caves on the pass itself. The nearest camping to the bottom of the pass is the Tseketseke campsite about 2 km from the actual start of the pass. The Ndumeni Caves are 2 small shelters found about 50m down Thuthumi Pass, 500m from Windy Gap. Roland’s Cave is a great cave right on the edge of the escarpment above Thuthumi Pass but a very narrow ledge has to be negotiated to reach it. There are many good camping sites on the escarpment itself. Water: The only water on the pass itself can be found in a few small trickles in summer when contouring below Castle Buttress. There are a couple of rivers on the contour path and water can also be found in a river on the escarpment, 500m from Windy Gap.
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