Who is doing or has done the Grand Traverse

Thanks Smurf

Happy to see that Ruan finished this year, we were all sad when he pulled out at Sani last year. Surprised that Andre was back, he was adamant that last year would be his last.

I see they still haven't updated the GT roll for 2012 though

Well done to the mountain pack packers, gee, ghosts from the past.


André Kleynhans who wrote the story did his first GT with me in 2009.He describes himself as “a dominee from East London”, but we had other names for him, Berg Bok being one of them. On the way up the chain ladders he announced that he was a little short of breath and that perhaps it was the altitude. 3 of us "souties" laughed at him and told him to stop making excuses, (in a good natured way, you understand). Well, we had to eat our words because when he adjusted a day later and his blood n guts, and the benefit of many Comrades and Washie’s (a 100mile ultra marathon) kicked in, you could not catch the man. And his skill at following a GPS in fog and mist now seems to be legend.

Andre or anyone with his email, please contact me, it’s been far too long. You are one GT ahead now, but I may have one more in me yet, perhaps you will join me.

Another ghost is a MBC member who would not allow any JHB members on a GT back in 2007 or 2008, although I had done 2 resupplies for them before. I remain eternally grateful to you, and I really mean it, because it got me off my fat bum and I put my own GT together and have never looked back since then. Thank you and I hope I get the chance to shake your hand one day.

Regards
G

I'm going to be part of a group doing the GT from 22 September 2013.

It will be an unsupported attempt and hopefully finshed in 6 days.

Direction North to South; Sentinal to Bushman's neck doing the required 6 peaks as setout by Gavin Raubenheimer.

Still in the planning stages but will post more details.

I see @ahowes is going the week of 22 Sep. Does anyone know of a trip going before then in August or early Sep? I'd love to join a group of people so I don't go alone.

For reference, I'm mostly wanting to hike Sentinel to Sani Top in about a week.

texasconverse wrote: I see @ahowes is going the week of 22 Sep. Does anyone know of a trip going before then in August or early Sep? I'd love to join a group of people so I don't go alone.

For reference, I'm mostly wanting to hike Sentinel to Sani Top in about a week.

There aren't usually groups doing GT's, if 3 teams do it each year it would be a lot. You might be able to find someone to join you. Easiest way to do a GT is to join Mountain Backpackers annual one, but that's in April each year. Otherwise you pretty much have to set everything up yourself and try to find people to join you.

Great to read the other reports. Here's ours: Drakensberg Traverse Report 2013 . It may be a bit long, sorry. On the 2nd page you can find our profile and daily covered distances. I've uploaded it to my server as it seems my uploaded document to the Downloads section on this website never appeared.

I ran into the MBC team of Dave at the top of the Sani Pass where they were planning to spend the night and I got a quick update on how wet and cold their start had been, when I set off late afternoon to make it to the top of the Mashai Pass. I needed to cut short the last part to catch up with friends picking me up the next day.

It was a really great experience and fantastic landscape! It's tempting to do it more lightweight and a bit faster.

Also, thanks for all the info provided on this forum that helped us prepare the trip much better.

Thanks for sharing - I've downloaded it, I'll give it a read soon.

As for the length - mine was 22 pages before adding 32 photos, so don't worry

intrepid wrote:

fjorden wrote: I have published it now.

Remember too that we are only an email or a PM away if something isn't working as expected.

Thanks for publishing it! I've updated the link in my message.