Grand Traverse Record Race

This thread discusses the Content article: Grand Traverse record attempt aborted due to snowfall

Even I have made these mistakes, so the criticism is partly self.
1. Don't take the manufacturer's word - test all critical equipment at home, seal all unsealed seams twice or three times.
2. Be ready for the worst - as soon as you stop moving you need warmth, and no compromises on it. If saving weight on sleeping bag is key, make one big bag for the whole party, no zips.
3. In the Drakensberg, know where ALL caves are by GPS. If you do so you can get away without a tent, to save weight. (I still carry mine, gives me options, but it weighs only 400g.) Then use the caves - and you need no bivy.
4. With down, no compromises. If it can get wet, don't take it out.

Here is my solution to the weight issue:
a) I have a 100g bivy I made myself
b) I have a 700g -10C down sleeping bag I made myself
c) I have a 400g tent I made myself
d) I use a 8g coke-can alcohol stove I made myself.

For 1200g, a mere feather, I can save myself in any conditions in any mountains - and have. In September 2006, after completing the first circuit of Mt Jagged (solo) which took me 2 weeks, I very comfortably survived a hurricane (yes, 120km/hr gusts, the remnants of a tropical hurricane Ernesto) at 4000m in the Rockies with a meter of snow and screaming spindrift off the 4500m peaks. Stopped me for 2 1/2 days before the sky cleared. The coldest night was the next, clear skies and my highest camp at Twin Thumbs Pass. Found a short cut home - took me only 4 days!

Now you are probably saying, where can I get this stuff, I'll pay anything! Sorry, you cannot get it anywhere.

It makes me mad as hell that my inventiveness is constantly stolen, for it means I cannot share. I have used my inventions since 1997.

Anyone out there willing to manufacture these things under license?

Hi guys

We're organising a race starting on 8 November at the Sentinel Car Park to attempt to break the long-standing traverse record as per the rules set by the Raubenheimer brothers.

This race is being discussed at www.drakensberg.ning.com and we already have a few parties interested.

Join in and lets see how fast it can be done!

Great site by the way (and thanks for the link to my super traverse website

Stijn

Ja thanks! Hopefully it's a little more injury-free this time... but with guys like Bruce Arnett and Andrew Porter doing the race, me thinks this record is going to take a tumble!

And they're off! I've decided to skip the suffering this time around - the Bull of Africa was enough for this year

This from Andrew Porter:

"Hello

This weekend, Bruce and I will be attempting the Drakensberg Grand Traverse. We will leave the Sentinel Car Park at 4am Saturday 8t November. We will then push through to Bushman's Nek 200km and about 12000m altitude cmulated gain/loss later in a single push with no rests. If all goes well, we will reach the end at about 8pm Sunday, 40 hours later. The objective is to break the 9.5 year old record set by Gavin Raubenheimer of 109 hours 40 minutes.

A number of other parties will also be out there this weekend. Sid will also pend Saturday night at the top of Champagne Castle to offer some encouragement.

Due to the intrest gathered, Bruce and I will be carrying a yellowbrick tracking device. This will transmit our position every 5 minutes, making it possible to track our progress on the web.

For the armchair runners out there, please go to:
www.drakensberg.ning.com

Here, you will be able to see our position on Google earth, as well as our planned route. The planned route gives estimated timing along the way and a brief description (if you click on the markers) of the route so far. The other teams will be tracked via SMS updates as and when the get cell phone recetion.

Hope to see you out there.

Cheers
Andrew"