Blow and Glow season 2014

We are into the Berg season that I like to call "Blow and Glow" for fun. It is windy, dry and lots of fires.

This particular year seems early in this respect. It is particularly dry, more than other years it is seems. The rains were not good and neither has the snowfall been so far. Water will be an issue more than usual, and earlier than usual. Beware of camping places such as Keith Bush Camp and Bell Cave - they will be dry early. Feel free to use this thread to post updates on all relevant water conditions.

Also, it seems the fires have been pretty severe so far. Injasuthi had a massive fire, and so did the Mnweni recently (houses were burned down). I heard rumours of people turning back on the Chain Ladder trail due to fires. A lot of the pictures I have seen of the Berg lately show large areas where it has burned. The Berg is looking desolate almost to the point of looking a bit ugly.

And Ive heard more than one complaint and reference to strong winds lately.

Take care out there and post any updates here that are of relevance and interest.

Highlands Fanatic wrote: As to the trial below the escarpent, there clearly were burns low down in the Namahali Valley, although not close to the trial. Smoke from those burns will however have bothered those hiking as it got blown upwards against the escarpment wall.

That actually ties in more with the exact wording of what I heard about this.

Recent satellite imagery shows the extent of the burned sections. Although the pattern is similar to recent years, the extent of the burns seem to be more pronounced this year, especially for the Northern Berg.

Pictures of the Mnweni 27-28 July.

If you look closely at this first one, you will see numerous valleys and ridges that are burned:




It may also be of interest to know that the Mnweni Wilderness Working Team does do firebreaks in the Mnweni and they do try and educate the locals about fires. This is one of the firebreaks in the Tonyelana Valley:

Riaang wrote: A couple of us will be hiking in the Mnweni area next weekend and I read that the veld is very dry, could anybody advise water availability in this area. Plan is to go up Mnweni pass, sleep in a cave on the escarpment and then walk down to the cultural centre. First night sleepover planned for ChiChi bushcamp, second night either Ledgers cave or the other cave near Rockeries pass.

www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/14-drakensberg-general/55638-true-left-vs-actual-left.html

You shouldn't have difficulties in the valleys. When you top out on Mnweni Pass, take a bearing straight towards the dome where Mponj Cave is. After 300m, in the watercourse (the source of the Orange) you will stumble on a trench/gully which you see when you are closer. There are pools in this trench. I was there in June and they had water but were solidly frozen over, so you will need to break open the ice. Note, there are about two trench systems, make sure you hit the deeper one. If no water here, you will have to follow the river into Lesotho until you hit water. Ledger's Cave will have no water. Make sure you fill up before heading out there.