Winter Grand Traverse

Hi All

It's great to be back on the VE forum.

Not sure if this has been discussed at all, but I was wondering when a Winter Traverse would would be classed as a Mid-Winter Traverse. Would it be around the Winter solstice with reduced day light and lower temperatures or maybe later when the bigger snow falls occur towards the end of July and August. Strange Question I agree as I am aware that heavy snow falls can occur during June but this does not happen every year.

Has anybody out there ever used snow shoes on the Southern Slopes of the high berg. On a few occasions up there I have thought that they would come in handy. it would look strange I must admit. You would all probably think where has this back country Yank come from.
Kind regards
Selous

Hi Diverian

Me too. Good old 21st of June. What a day for a birthday.
Selous

Hi there,

My friend and I are planning on hiking the DGT this June. We're both experienced and prepared for the cold but there are a few questions if anyone can help:

- Food resupply: we don't have the resources for a resupply team but is there any way we can take a reasonable detour for a resupply. I read about resupplying around Sani-Pass?

-escape routes: I've been searching continuously but I can't find any sufficient info on escape routes during the traverse? can anyone help?

-lifts back from Bushmans nek to Sentinel Car Park? Does anyone know of the cost of this?

If you've done the DGT in June before... Do you have any advice?

Cheers
Kai

Howzit Kai,

Can't help answer your questions, but I may be able to help be part of a re-supply if you know more or less where & when and we can find someone to lead... Just a thought.

With escape routes I guess you want fairly easy, direct routes down that take you to a point where you can get help (aid, comms, shelter, food, transport). Organ Pipes via Thuthumi Ridge; Langalibalele; Sani Pass?

KaiPF wrote: - Food resupply: we don't have the resources for a resupply team but is there any way we can take a reasonable detour for a resupply. I read about resupplying around Sani-Pass?

Sani Pass Tours can take your resupply up to Sani Top for you, they charged us R100 last year. Sani Mountain Lodge is usually happy to hang onto it for you provided you stop there for a meal (which I would recommend doing anyway).

KaiPF wrote: -escape routes: I've been searching continuously but I can't find any sufficient info on escape routes during the traverse? can anyone help?

It depends on your route, if you do a speed GT route then you have far less escape options than a more traditional GT line for example.

On a more traditional line you have:
- Rockeries Pass
- Ntonjelana Pass
- Mlambonja Pass
- Organ Pipes Pass
- Grays Pass (although it is far out of the way)
- Leslies Pass
- Judge Pass
- Bannerman Pass
- Langies Pass
- South Jarding Pass
- Giants Pass
[big gap with not many suitable exits]
- Sani Pass
- Mashai Pass
- Ngwangwane Pass if you really can't handle that last 1km to Thamathu Pass

There is a thread that includes each of the passes above somewhere on this site.

KaiPF wrote: -lifts back from Bushmans nek to Sentinel Car Park? Does anyone know of the cost of this?

Try Underberg Express, they do this.

What we did last December worked pretty well (but takes some time) - I met AndrewP at Bushmans Nek, he left his car there while I drove him to PMB. Someone else in our group then drove to Sentinel with 1 extra passenger (a friend of mine who volunteered to help out). My friend then drove the car back to PMB. This meant that we had a car at the finish and didn't have to pick up a car from the start. But I understand that this is much harder to arrange.

You can always post dates on the Upcoming Hikes Thread and see if other VE people are hitting the mountains on the same weekends and coordinate accordingly.

Thanks so much!

Fantastic! Thanks so much.