Who is doing or has done the Grand Traverse

Attempt GT Challenge: 22 September - 28 September 2013
Anthony Howes
Dave Burns
Keith Hawyes
Gerard Rudolph

Teachers from CURRO Hillcrest. Attempt to see how far we can get in seven days.

You can follow us on:

www.facebook.com/DrakensbergGT

Was a good learning curve! We will definitely take it on again next year.

Witsiehoek - Mount-Aux-Sources - Cleft Peak - Champagne's Castle - Monks Cowl = 4 days

Hiking conditions were very good, fitness levels not so good. Our packs were too heavy and we need to work on our food.

Also we should look at hiking further in the dark if the going is not too slow. I felt that we also needed a proper stop every 4 hours rather than go for 8 hour stretches.

We know the route for the Northern Section I would like to do the rest first get to know the route before I put it all together.

I use Salomon Labs they were comfortable and light but the fine dust on the paths mixed in with sheep and cow dung allowed fine dust into the shoe, which on day 4 start to cause abrasion. I had 2 small blisters but that was enough to make it uncomfortable and most likely would have got worse!

Would like to try the Salomon Gortex boot next time.

Nice - would be awesome to get some pics and a report [hint, hint ]

antmanhowes wrote: We know the route for the Northern Section I would like to do the rest first get to know the route before I put it all together.

The other two thirds is much harder than that stretch - well it was for me anyway. I don't know what is more deadly - starting with the Mashai, No-Mans and Hodgeson's ridge or ending with them. Giant's is roughly in the middle of a KZN GT (i.e. Witsieshoek to Bushman's Nek) - so train hard. But personally most of my favourite Berg valleys are south of Monk's Cowl - so train hard and enjoy

antmanhowes wrote: Would like to try the Salomon Gortex boot next time.

I did the GT last year in Salomon Gortek boots - they held up well (aside from when it snowed), but they were falling apart before I even reached 400km with them (that took me 10 months).

A word of warning - I had some serious achilles tendon strain from those boots. Make sure you tie them in the middle rather than the top if your achilles is starting to ache.

Have you heard what week n April MBC will go? Is it always the first week? What would the dates for the GT be then? I didn't end up going and want to make a plan to go April. Thanks.

So they are doing south to north again. That day 1 is a real killer...

I might do an Orange River GT equivalent over the masses of public holidays in April next year, head up Chain ladders, GT route to above Rockeries and follow the Orange to the point where it comes back to being close to the escarpment edge and head return via the Mzimude river - perhaps finishing up the GT route with Isicutula and Thamathu Pass. Its pie in the sky right now and would require people who are up for it, but I am looking at it as a possibility.

Am planning a 10 day North to South GT in April next year.

Anyone interested?
Let me know and we can take it from there.

I'm really keen. I mapped out my own route South-North over the same time (12 days), but think it will be easier logistically to join an expedition, rather than lead one.
No previous GT experience, but have done and led multiple overnighters in the Berg and 3 Comrades.
How can I get in touch with you directly?
Christof (0795383749)

Any reason why you are avoiding the long weekend of 27April - 1 May? Would make these dates work out easier on my leave.

I am open to other dates at this stage...