General Grand Traverse planning & tips

good day

Chris suggested i post my ? to the forum. being from the cape i am new to this forum and i would like to ask for advice.
for us this is the ultimate hike in sa so a few of us intend to do the grand traverse at some date in the future.as opposed to asking specific ? i would like to open with a more general approach of ?.

how do we go about planning ito route mapping, gps co-ordinates, landmark identification, security, challenges etc.

any and all suggestion would be much appreciated.

Hi shafay & welcome here. I'm pretty sure you'll find all the answers you are looking for here. (AWESOME site)

I'm also intending to do the Traverse next year or so. The furthest I've done is up to Cathedral Peak.

Have you guys done some trekking in the Drakensberg before?

Check out Google Earth & maps & check this site for the gps coordinates for caves & to-avoid-camping areas due to gun smuggling etc.

Since it's quite a long hike, I've heard some groups arrange for other hikers to bring up food (think Bannerman's pass is 1 ) & sani pass.

Good luck.

Jacques

Quick 2 cents. No need really for refueling - if you plan it well enough you can get by with what you can carry - this depends on your pace though (I hiked 8 days and ended with food to spare). Picking the right time of year is also quite important and can make your hike easier. It will however always be a gamble as there is no guarantee of good weather. You want to avoid summer rain/thunderstorm and obviously winter snow/sleat. I did it in May and we had perfect weather. Drawback in winter is the reduced daylight hours. I think August, September and early Ocotber could be good months as well.

Pack weight is crucial - we weighed everything to ensure we took the lightest possible gear. Make sure you take no unnecessary items. Be sure to take at least two sets of maps and arrange tents so that the group can split off. This came in very handy when we had to send a member of our group down on his own due to ITB.

Hvae a clear agreement between members of teh group upfront about bailing: EIther teh whole group stops if one has to bail out or else if you bail you must be prepared to get down on your own if safe to do so. Have a backup p[erson in teh area on standby to do pickups in such an event.

Security - at times you can go quite deep intoo Lesotho. The usual precautions applies - try and set camp late and out of sight of settlement and people. Camp out of sight of major pathways.

Make sure you have clear objectives when you set out - goals that is understood by the whole group - conflict comes quick and easy in a fatigued group. No use to chase 6 days if some of the group is fine with 12 days - you probably should be in diferent groups then.

The toughest part of the Travers is psychological - it is not flat on top - far from it and youy will go for long distances on no paths and will cross valley after valley - often unseen from where you set out. Try to pick conours and valleys - sometime (mostly extra distance following valley beds in and out of Lesotho is quicker than crossing straight over the dividing ridge.

Good luck

Hello Jacques + Attie

Thanks for your comments it is much appreciated.a few years ago attempted mafadi 3 day hike. last year did giants cup and thabanu ntlenyanu.

Hello

Intrepid
BergAttie
JacquesBuys

you certainly have added value.

BergAttie your comment re try to pick valleys and contours and follow valley beds in and out of Lesotho is quicker than crossing straight over ridge is interesting. not sure if i follow you yet.my ignorance comes from being unfamiliar with the lay of the land.

Intrepid you are spot on, yes checkpoints.now you guys obviously know these landmarks on sight, so how do i identify/recognize them.

what would be the "perfect time" to do it, i know BergAttie had some suggestions.

you guys will be the first to know on the completion of the GT

Take Care

Shafay

Once you have studied the Maps you will have a very good idea what I mean. As teh crow flies on top will take you foreverbut there are several valleys and rivers taht flow directly into Lesotho, following these are good footpaths at times and yuo can cover serious ground following these - throughout the trip uyou will way up these two options many times i.e. going over or around following valleys.

It is almost impossibe to know all the landmarks - good map reading and navigation skills is crucial - take a good set of maps (two set in fact) and a compass at the very least.

I would also recommend that you work ou a detailed route detailing key points to pass. This will give yu something to aim for each day. Just working this out before you leve will help tremendously in understanding teh lay of the land. Time on Google Earth will also help.

Keep the quetsions rolling if you ned I can sen you a basic route.

hello guys

BergAttie thanks for the basic route that would be a great help.

you guys have certainly given me food for thought and as such I know feel more confident in my endeavour.


Thanks

I will be doing the grand traverse next year over Easter, and was wondering if anybody else that has done it has any tips on what they learned and would do differently if they did it again.

Is it a good idea to share a tent with someone or does one find you need your own space after a few days of been in such close quarters?