Northern & Central Berg Passes photo comp 2023

For the remainder of 2023 we are running a photo competition with two categories: one for Northern Berg Passes, and the other for Central Berg Passes.

Here are the Gallery links for submissions:
Northern Berg Passes
Central Berg Passes

Readers will be aware that we have been revamping and expanding our Berg index pages (see announcement and index pages ). As part of this we are wanting to boost the number of photos available that show what a pass is like. We are looking for photos that give viewers a good idea of what the pass looks like and what to expect. Not only are these useful for readers to browse in the galleries, but we also use these for thumbnail images on the index pages.

Competition rules:

• participants can submit an unlimited number of photos in each category
• the photos should be uploaded to the galleries in the links posted above
• ideally the submissions should be announced here on this thread, with a copy of the photos and perhaps a short blurb (this encourages user participation)
• submissions close on the first day of 2024
• the moderator team will serve as judges to determine the winners
• currently we have no prize for the winners (other than featuring the winning images on the front page), but if anyone or any company wishes to sponsor a prize, please contact me

Photo guidelines:

• ideal photos are views up or down a pass which show large parts of the route (if not all)
• ideal photos are also those taken from the valleys or from the Little Berg which still clearly show the pass, though from further away
• photos can be annotated with useful labels
• photos can have the route drawn in on it
• try to avoid photos that show views from the pass but which show little detail of the route itself
• try to avoid photos of the top of passes taken somewhere along the escarpment because these usually don't reveal much of the route 

Here are some examples of the kind of photo we are looking for:

Route on Legers Pass posted by SeriousTribe in the thread for that pass:


A classic view of both forks of Ships Prow posted by tonymarshall on the Ships Prow South Fork thread:


A useful perspective on Giants Castle Pass posted by tonymarshall on the Giants Castle Pass thread.



An annotated view of the two Hlatimba Passes posted by elinda in the galleries:
 
 

Here are my first two submissions:

Here is Rwanqa Pass with the Black & Tan Wall, which dominates the approach to the pass. It also provides a convenient grassy ridge to help you bypass the lower half of the gully forming the pass. The base of this ridge is the shaded dome shape in the center. The ridge can be followed up directly towards the big wall. At a point you need to leave the ridge and traverse right along the base of the wall to join the main gully of the pass. This in my opinion is much better than sticking to the main gully all the way up. Photo was taken in 2018 as a way of reaching the Inner Mnweni Pinnacle, which was climbed the following day.

Rwanqa Pass with Black & Tan Wall

 


There next submission is a perspective of Hilton Pass, taken from the boulder bed in the bottom half of the pass. It is not easy getting a shot which shoes the entire route because it deviates from the main gully at a point not far beyond the boulder beds towards the left of this view. At this point the route becomes much harder as it winds its way through smaller gullies, rock bands and steep slopes. The photo was taken in 2019 as part of the approach to the Western Injisuthi Triplet, which was climbed the following day via a new variation of the original line accessed from the escarpment. Note the same mysterious character carrying an oversized, green pack featured in both photos.

Hilton Pass from boulder bed