Who is doing or has done the Grand Traverse

This weekend saw Frodo enter the depths of Mordor…

As with any good adventure, the story starts when a coffee deprived Frodo departs his house in Johannesburg at 2am.

The first obstacle was a bunch of orcs who just did not want to believe that Frodo had only just woken up. They wanted to test his breath (to see what toothpaste he uses?) and felt sure that a late night party had been on the offering.

The next few hours passed uneventfully. Until, that is, Frodo decided to take a shortcut through the Misty Mountains. It was still dark and the road proved to be treacherous. A nasty pothole emerged at an inappropriate time leaving Frodo stuck at the side of the road. Front tyre was already on the rim and back tyre had an audible hissing sound. Fortunately Frodo had rented this car and was able to work his way safely to Bergville. He spent an hour passing time and then departed, a ridiculously small R80 later, to drive away with 2 fixed tyres.

Frodo made his way to Cathedral Peak Hotel to meet up with the remaining members of the re-supply team who had driven up from the Durban area. They had gotten a bit bored with waiting for Frodo and his tyres so they started the hike without him. Frodo bravely set off by himself armed with an iPod and a pair of running shoes.

After about 15 minutes, an embarrassed Frodo pulled out his cell phone, admitting to the world that he was a bit too modern to belong to the world of hobbits and elves. That call though complicated things – the previous day, two members of the main party had descended Rockeries Pass and they had only now reached the Mnweni Visitor Center. Frodo would need to go back to collect them.

Frodo called the re-supply team ahead, and after discussing things such as “I can see a big rock on the other side of the valley” worked out that he had taken a different path. So, he backtracked and took a shortcut to the Mushroom Rock. He found the re-supply team who happily dumped some of their load into Frodo’s pack.

Frodo then dropped back down to the hotel and went for a little drive to fetch the by now stranded hikers. They quickly decided that it would be better to finish the hike in the dark than to start out now in the baking sun. They promptly did what hobbits and famished hikers do best, namely to sit down at the hotel for some beer and food. Sometime between the numerous exchanges of stories, the re-supply team burst the bubble and announced that they were abandoning the mission. Could we please find them at the contour path and continue dragging up the supplies for them from there?

At 2pm, lunch time rudely ended and the steep hike up the hill started. At first, the going was great. Until he reached the point where the pack had been stashed. From here, things went more slowly, especially once it became apparent that the chosen route would take a long way around and would bypass Rivendell (and any other rivers!) One litre of water was beginning to look a bit on the lean side. Excellent views into the depths of Mordor did not help matters -

Frodo tactfully kept quite as this was now an exaggeration (the previous week, when the hills where covered in fires and smoke it would have been a more appropriate name).

Two long hours later, Frodo and Dylan saw the re-supply team. We dropped down to say hi and as with anyone carrying a magical ring, Frodo suddenly found himself burdened by an extra load. From here, the going was weak and slow. Fortunately the team on top called and we asked them to come down to collect a few goodies.

Darkness came and exposed the flames of fires in the distance.

We met the team from above while walking underneath the Camel. By now, Frodo had been on enough adventures to know that if a girl asks for a bigger load, then it is wise to hand over more goodies. Armed with a considerably lighter load, and a whole lot of chit-chat and jokes later we all set off into the darkness.

We reached the summit just before 9pm and Frodo had to ask himself if it really was worth getting only 3 hours of sleep the night before for such a late finish to the day. He wisely decided that a few good adventures and a few new friends are definitely worth it.

The next morning we all set off for a little adventure into the depths of Rolands Cave. We were all glad to have visited the cave in daylight and with no packs on our backs.

The time of parting arrived.

Dylan’s party are now re-supplied and are continuing along the grand traverse. They have a full load of supplies and some great spirits and should make the next leg of their trip easily enough.

@ Andrew R
There is plently enough water up there now, at least as far as Organ Pipes. Both from what I saw a week ago, and from the accounts of Dylan's party

AndrewP wrote: So, he backtracked and took a shortcut to the Mushroom Rock.

A shortcut to mushrooms

Good call on avoiding the Morgul Vale and the pass of Cirith Ungol - Shelob has been in a bad mood recently.

I'm 99% sure that I don't need to take my passport when doing a GT based on what I have heard / read previously.
Can anyone please confirm? Especially if you have done a very recent GT.
TIA

Hi Grandeur

I have taken my passport on all three GT's that I have done ( last one was in April this year) and have never had to use it. Guess its always better to be safe than sorry though - so my advice would be to take it just in case!

diverian wrote: Given the current politcal turmoil it would be a good idea to have it, you wouldn't want to be thrown in jail suspected of being an "invading third force"

Haha this made me laugh.
I will be invading them with lots of energy bars and 1,2kg of peanut butter

Ok will take it in case. Thanks for the responses.
(More weight I wasn't banking on taking - bag now weighs 13,48kg for everything excl water)

Will report back later next week when we return assuming the weather doesn't turn nasty and we abort.

Even if you won't need your passport, its better to take along.

Grandeur wrote: Will report back later next week when we return assuming the weather doesn't turn nasty and we abort.

Have an awesome hike Grandeur - looking forward to the report and photos afterwards!

Myself and AndrewP are gearing up for a GT later this year. 37 days till we set off

Doing N-S, Sehlabathebe/Bushman's Nek Pass finish, no resupplies, 13 days.