Who is doing or has done the Grand Traverse

Congrats Ghaz and Hobbit.

I was so looking forward to joining them for this, but when Ghaz and I did Giants Castle as a fitness test on 2016-11-28, my first ever bout of altitude sickness put paid to completing a Giants Traverse of 50+km in a day and a chance to join them. I have, however done 2 (solo) hikes since (2016-12-11 to 13: Sani Top via Thaba Ntlenyana & Giants Castle summits down Langalibalele pass to Giants Castle camp; 2017-01-01 to 02 Giants Castle camp up Bannermans Pass via Injisuthi Dome and Mafadi summits down Leslies pass to Injisuthi camp) to get my fitness back.

Good luck guys for a new back to back GT record.

Some updates on Ghaz, Hobbit & AndrewP's GT progress (based on Andrew's tracker).

- Looks like they started at Sentinel Car Park just after 5am on 31 Dec
- They spent the first night at the top of Nguza Pass (perhaps in a cave there?) from 21:00 to 04:00 (40km on day 1)
- They spent the second night in Injisuthi Summit Cave from 23:30 to 05:30 (52km on day 2)
- They reached the top of Giant's Pass at 13:30 on the 3rd day and then likely did an out-and-back trip to tag Giant's Castle peak without the tracker and spent the night in a cave at the top of the pass, leaving at 04:00 this morning (37km on day 3)
- They have just crossed the Sani road (at 14:20)

Not sure what happened at Giants as they seem to have stopped early there yesterday, but if they can push through tonight, they're still on track for sub-4 days (expires at 5am tomorrow). Keep on trucking!

Thanks Stijn. Accurate for most part except we started at 10am.

Stopped at Giants instead of a bivvy in the Mokotlong.

As we hit the Sehonghong river, mist pulled in and soon after rain as well. There is no hope of sun for days so we are currently eating a buffet breakfast at Sani Top and planning way forward

Ah.. cunning to start so late. Who did you learn that from?

Bad luck with the weather.. I'm sure the breakfast is making up for it though! I presume you'll finish the traverse anyway for Ghaz & Hobbit's double?

126h55, but not unsupported. Story "baaa'd jokes" to follow.

Well done on a solid effort guys! I've added your S to N time to the speed-DGT list: www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/14-drakensberg-general/55826-drakensberg-fkts-record-of-times.html?start=20#65856

I am trying to get an idea of how many people have completed 3 or more GT's - mostly for statistical purposes. I have told Hobbit's school (who want to get his GT story into the media) that it is probably less than 30 people, but am just taking a guess. Any VE members who have done 3 or more, or know someone who has, please comment how many you or they have done.

People I know of:
1) Jenny Owen with at least 7
2) Jonathan Newman with 6
3) Tony Marshall with 5
4) Dave Gay with 5
5) Andrew Porter with 5
6) Linda Feher with 5
7) Adrian Clarke 5
8) John Pickup with 4
9) Ryno Griesel with 4
10) Brendan McQuirk with 4
11) Elaine Bushell with 3
12) Stephan Terblanche with 3
13) Christine Terblanche with 3
14) Thora Honibal with 3
15) Andre Kleynhans with 3
16) Roger Rood probably with 3
17) Mavis Morris with 3
18) Sabine Behr with 3
19) Mike van Wyngaard with 3
20) Grant Wilkinson with 3
21) Hanneke Robart with 3
22) Pam Bradley with 3
23) Jo Hall with 3
24) Sue Desmond probably with 3 or 4
25) Christine Pickup probably with 3+
26) Ingrid Swart with 3+
27) Derek Griffith with 3+
28) John Stapley with 3+
29) Gustav Greffrath with 3
30) Richard Van Ryneveld with 3+

I know the above list is not nearly complete, though.

I have done three

Ghaz, could you maybe put everyone's full names on the list as well...just to make it a little easier for research at a later stage

Stephan and Christine Terblanche, and Thora Honibal have also completed three Grand Traverses. I am not sure about Christine Pickup ( nee Bro) - perhaps check with John?