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Hi there, I'm pretty new to the VE crew, but it looks like this is the place to be for info! I am planning on doing the above route for the first time over the weekend of 19-21 August. It looks as though I may have to go solo, so I would love any words of wisdom or insider tips! Also, if anyone has a path of least resistance from pass to pass, it would be magical!

Hi krimpvark,

for both passes write-ups and GPS data is available on this site. Have look for them, hopefully they are easy enough to find.

You have 4 hurdles on the escarpment: the ridge coming off Popple, Bannerman, Durnford and Long Wall. Bannerman and Durnford are the steepest. I would stick fairly closely to the edge, otherwise you'd be missing out. You can bypass the Bannerman summit, if you want, by going down/up the valley behind it where the cave is, and you can go up/down the valley behind Bond, Poterill and Erksine - the rest I wouldn't try bypass. You'd have to follow the Lesotho valleys otherwise, which wouldn't be the point, and there are also lots of kraals around, especially in the Jarateng valley. How you cross Durnford can be interesting. There is an easy scramble with a little bit of exposure, leading straight down to the northern variation of Jarateng Pass (behind Poterill). Otherwise, walk a little North-West of the Durnford summit, along the the ridge to find alternate descents into the valley. Have a look for the Grand Traverse GPS data file in the Downloads section. This will give you an idea of the route you can take through the area.

This is not a good area in terms of security, especially if you go alone - please be very careful, and try find someone to go with. The shepherds in the Giants area have been problematic for many years. Have a look through the security section in the forum and in the blogs for an idea of what has happened in this area. Judge Pass is a significant smuggling route, so don't camp near the trail there.

Have fun, and let us know how it goes.

Amazing how Judge Pass has become so popular on this forum, when I planned on doing it in April (and thanks to going with an unfit person ended up going up Bannerman Pass instead), I couldn't find any threads on it, now there are 2 active ones...

Security is such an issue in that area, personally I have spent 6 days in Giant's Castle Nature Reserve this year, 3 nights in Bannerman Hut. I only saw "our friendly neighbours" on 1 hike, they threw rocks at our group, that was on Langalibalele Pass. I personally would not go there alone, but thats just my opinion.

Ps. Please do me a favour and climb Popple Peak when you are up there, I have had 3 failed attempts on it this year (1 due to weather, 1 due to rocks being thrown at us and 1 due to hiking with a friend who wasn't as fit as I thought), it would be nice to know that someone has actually climbed it this year! For some reason, dispite possibly being the most destinctive non-escarpment edge peak in the central berg (literally you can clearly see it from Escourt and Ladysmith, from the PMB side Giant's Castle blocks it) people don't seem to ever plan on climbing it...

For me, Popple was one of those peaks you climb once. Due to the fact that it's set off the escarpment edge, nothing memorable about the view really stands out. The "peak" is also a broad grassy dome so it's not that inspiring to be honest. So it's not really something you go out and "conquer"...

Grrrr, how dare you say that about Popple!

Based on my knowledge of the peak I do have to agree with Stijn though, I also can't really see the point in climbing it numerous times, but I WILL conqeur it, soon...

Ah, thank you SO much guys! Yes, I have been discovering treasure after treasure on this site - woohoo! Thank you so much for the warnings, it is unfortunate, but I guess the Berg can't be perfect, though it is frightfully close. I have managed to talk a buddy into coming along, so we will be as safe as possible. I cannot thank you guys enough, you can bet I'll be putting my hand up for advice again!