vertical-endeavour.com

Hi all

I wish to acquire some good reading/photo material on the berg, so I thought I'd start this thread to compile a comprehensive list of material.

I'd start with Barrier of Spears and Dragon's Wrath.

Then there are two books I've heard about: Camera in Quathlamba and Encounters with the Dragon. Can anyone recommend these two?

And what else can I look at?

Thanks
Gollum

Hi there

You can also try the following:

1. Serpent Spires by Duncan Souchan: Good Reading much in the style of the Mountain Club Journal - basically a peak by peak account of notable climbs, with some background on each peak.

2. A Guide to the Drakensberg by August Sycholdt - very colourful and well photographed guide to the berg. More of a tourist guide than anything, but can pick up some interesting facts especially around the nature, some of the recommended walks etc. Perhaps lacking in depth if you are looking for 'heartful' historical accounts or anything like that.

3. Sani Pass: Riding the Dragon by David Alexander: Not a true mountaineering or 'berg book per se, but worthy of reading - tells the story of how Sani Pass was initially opened up from a pony track to a jeep track and a trading route established - richly tells the history along with the trials and tribulations - certainly encaptures the spirit of the mountains and their conquest.

For pure day-dream reading, you can't beat the 1:50 000 set of maps - I can spend hours pouring over them

PS. You mentioned Barrier of Spears - have you seen the latest edition released a year or so back - text content is the same (with one or two additions here and there) but the photography has been greatly increased with some great pics. I consider it a must have on the shelf, next to the 'old' edition.

For a collection of the highest quality images I have ever seen of the Berg (apart from here on this site of course ) John Hone's "Encounters with the Dragon" is the best by far! Some of the pictures make you imagine that you are really there and not just paging through a book!

Totally agree about John Hone's "Encounters with the Dragon". Superb photography, testament to John's passion for the Berg, and effort and time he has put into it.
The quality of pics, and size thereof is as close to being there as anything i've see. 2 pics stand out for me : campsite high on Cockade Pass and snow on Injisuthi Escarpment.

a MUST HAVE !!!!

Thanks for the advice!

OK, so I'll start with Barrier of Spears and Encounters with the Dragon.

@drsnoobab: Thanks for the list, I'll look out for them. And yep, I got all the Surveyor General's 1:50 000 maps from Witsieshoek to Sani Pass, and can also testify about those hours!