Ethereal Tower
Amazing always when one gets up there to see how rugged and clefted the amphi wall actually is.
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@Rob: did you climb it yourself? Any beta would be appreciated.RobD wrote: Hi. I'm pretty sure Intrepid is right - it's the only free-stander of any significance off the escarpment but at the same height with a good bit of grass on the top. Located very soon after the Bilanjil walking South. Many years ago some goon had obviously climbed it, and put a "NO CAMPING" sign on it. I appreciated the humour.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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Also had a look at the other pinnacle, which has been referred to as The Castle. It is much smaller and looms more or less directly over the middle of the "W" feature below, also described in the Amphitheatre RD.
Having returned with a fresher perspective, I re-examined the labelled photo found in Dodd's "Cradle of Rivers". I have marked in the "W" and labelled the bigger pinnacle too. It appears that the Ethereal Tower is in fact the smaller of the two pinnacles (ie The Castle). The map which was posted in the first post of this thread, also indicates that the Ethereal Tower is very close to Bilanjil Falls. This is very true for the smaller pinnacle, but not the bigger one. Furthermore, the "exit gully" is also discernible on this portion of the map, and it is further away from the Tower. Seems a bit disappointing, but it appears this is what the historical references are pointing to.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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intrepid wrote:
@Rob: did you climb it yourself? Any beta would be appreciated.RobD wrote: Hi. I'm pretty sure Intrepid is right - it's the only free-stander of any significance off the escarpment but at the same height with a good bit of grass on the top. Located very soon after the Bilanjil walking South. Many years ago some goon had obviously climbed it, and put a "NO CAMPING" sign on it. I appreciated the humour.
Its just amazing to think that if this tower was climbed, we have heard nothing about it. while standing on the Amphitheater wall a few weeks ago and looking at it, this would of being one hell of a peak to climb. the only way I can think of is by leaving a fixed line on the Amphitheater wall, rapping down into the neck and climbing the tower which looks like it would go at a grade no less than F3.
I would love to find out who climbed this.......
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