Who is doing or has done the Grand Traverse

Hi all

I am considering to do the DGT in 2022. Am looking at various options, incl. guided and unguided, supported and unsupported, small group vs big group, etc. I have two friends in KZN that are guides and could help with guiding, logistics and resupply, but that comes at a cost. 

My question is this: is anyone aware whether the MCSA still does the DGT regularly, and whom to contact for such information? I imagine it would be sections in KZN or Gauteng? If there is an MCSA group planning the DGT for 2022, it might be an option to tag along. I am an MCSA member, qualified guide, first responder, etc. Based in the Western Cape.

Thank you
 

Hi Gerrie

The MCSA KZN section doesn't organise DGTs, we certainly have members who do them - I imagine you may well get in touch with them on this site.

The Mountain Backpackers Club is quite active in organising DGTs, though, I believe - maybe get in touch with them (www.mountainbackpackers.co.za/).

Gerrie, we are planning on doing it from 31st Oct till about 12th NOV. 

Hey.
We are planning to do DGT from 17 to 26 October. Four guys in the team.

We are also trying to sort out the transport at the end. Friends will drop us off at Sentinel start but we need a lift from Bushmans to Durban at the end.

Any advice?

wrote:

We are also trying to sort out the transport at the end. Friends will drop us off at Sentinel start but we need a lift from Bushmans to Durban at the end.

Any advice?

Last DGT I did, I just left my car at the start and walked back when I was done. Ok, not the most helpful comment ever, I know - but it is true (although technically my most recent completed traverse was the hike back to my car).

But jokes aside - contact Underberg Express (google has their contact details). We used them on my first DGT to get back to the start and I've used them for logistics on the Giants Cup Trail as well. Otherwise Baz Bus may be a viable option, although I've never used them - I think they go to Underberg, although not sure if they still exist in the time of covid. Also consider staying at Silverstreams for a night after your GT - so if something goes wrong and you finish a day late, you won't have missed your transport.

Hi Guys !
We are planning to do the Grand Traverse starting 22/23 of november.
We are a french couple and used to big hikes. I went around this website and I thankful of all the information gathered here!
I still have some question about where we can find gas can for stove, if possible in Harrismith or even at the start of the GT (whitsieshoek lodge maybe?)
Is there any contraindication to do the GT at this moment and also doing it only 2 persons?
Thanks in advance for the answer!
Cheers!
Celio.

Hi Celio

You chances of finding gas cannisters at Witsieshoek is probably close to Zero. Even Harrismith will be a challenge. It depends on your type of stove. You will have to buy all these kind of things in larger cities or towns. Depending of where you fly to Durban/Pietermaritzburg, Johannesburg or Pretoria.

In November your main challenge will be thunder and rain storms and heat. But it is doable. A group of two is Ok but beware of security  - set camp out of sight of onlookers and avoid areas close to settlements. Avoid certain areas for overnight spots- especially near some of the more active smuggling passes. You will find info on this website in this regard. 

Just a couple of questions regarding the age of DGT finishers. What is the average age of people finishing the full DGT? What would a list of people above 60 years of age, who did an unsupported DGT, look like? What is the age of the oldest person who ever did an unsupported DGT?

I did a 13 day DGT in 2019 at the age of 62. I planned the route, then found two young guys to join me. The conditions to join me were that we do the DGT as it should be done: Starting at Sentinel Car Park, summitting all 6 peaks and finish at Bushmen's Neck with no resupplies or support of any kind.

I don't think anyone is keeping track of that one. It would also largely depend on what you consider to be a grand traverse.

Easiest way would be to take the definition of a DGT as per the speed record and take advantage of the fact that Stijn has kept such good records, even of the slower times. If you can find the age of the people on the list, then it becomes easier. Youngest on the list will be Mike van Wyngaard at 15 years 325 days - although the youngest record is a year younger, same person but on a double resuplied 14 day traverse a year earlier.

The problem you'll always encounter is what one actually defines as a grand traverse. If you go down at Giants Castle to collect a resupply from a friend at the car park, does that still count? After all, it made the traverse harder, not easier. If you spend a night at the Giants chalets and eat at the restaurant before going back up, does that still count? How about 3 nights? 10 nights? How about leaving most of your gear with the rest of the team, going down with a light pack and coming back up with everyone's resupplies? What about following the Kubedu from just past the chain ladders till you reach Mokhotlong - does that count? What about going up Fangs Pass instead of the chain ladders to make the traverse harder? How about catching a lift up the road from the bridge to Sani Top? Do you need to start at Mahai or Witieshoek, or is Sentinel Car Park fine?  What about finishing by coming down Walkers Pass or ending at Garden Castle instead of Bushman's Nek? The problem with this question will always be that most of us don't exactly agree on what a Grand Traverse actually is in terms of specifics.

To take the example above - Dave Gay initially didn't recognise Mike's GT as the youngest record as we went down Thamathu Pass, and didn't go past Tarn Cave at a minimum, but preferably St Bernards Peak. If one defines St Bernards Peak as the end point of a GT, then I've never done a GT. If Tarn Cave is defined as a checkpoint, I've only done one. If speed rules are considered as the only thing that counts, then I've only done 2, or 0 if one takes the N-S part as a requirement and thus doesn't accept S-N. In my opinion, I've completed 6 - and I don't think most people would dispute that all 6 of mine were legit GTs.

To me, a grand traverse is a hike that fits the following description: a traverse of the KZN High Berg Escarpment. Thus if you cross the Tugela River above the falls (or potentially start somewhere in the Free State and cross the region further inland), cross the Long Wall Ridge within 2km of the summit of Long Wall, and cross the Walkers Ridge within 2km of Walkers Peak, and during this period don't drop below 2500m in altitude (unless dropping in altitude is to collect a resupply), then I personally consider it to be a grand traverse. But I know plenty of people disagree with my definition and would come up with their own definition - and there's nothing wrong with that, seeing as we are all doing this for our own benefit.

Thanks for your reply Jonathan. I think your last sentence sums it up perfectly: "....... as we are all doing this for our own benefit"
There is a thought in a very remote part of my brain considering to do another DGT next year when I will be 67.????
Great respect for what you and guys like you achieve in the berg.