The upcoming hikes thread

tonymarshall wrote: Good, enjoy it. Hope the weathers kind, and if you've got visibility take a look if there's a possible connection between the Cockade Pass and Elephant Gully routes.

I think the answer lies here. This is a series of ledges just before the split between the 2 summit gullies.

The goal would be to connect one of the ledges to this grass bank:


From the top of Cockade I couldn't see enough to make a definite call, but if one was to spend a weekend doing some recce work, I rate the odds of finding a non-rock route would be quite high.

That would technically up the variations on Cockade to 4 as one could go up either side of the Elephant gully. A bit like how someone can technically connect the Camel route to Smugglers Pass - if they backtrack down the standard Organ Pipes route for a bit. Except there may be a logical reason to do this one - e.g. you want to ascend Cockade and descend Mlambonja.

I'm planning on going to the Tugela falls region(Mont-Aux-Sources?) this weekend for a solo two night stay. How's the weather up there this time of the year? Also, are the rivers still flowing or pretty dry? I really don't want to go unprepared.

Hi there; are there opportunities to join other groups on hikes? I appreciate that it remains questionable to embark on solo adventures but must we be prisoned by perceived fear?

I took a brave step and went up solo to Keith Bush Camp spending two nights over the long weekend knowing the chances of other people being there would be good. 15pax on night 1 and 6 on night 2. However most hikers I came across thought I was mad. (I'm not!)

I would like a Colorado Rockies-type forum where people going and willing to accept company are prepared to post and visa versa. I am training for the Cordillera Blanca and would like to go to the Berg again. Any suggestions? Thanks so much.

Good idea, perhaps we could just make use of THIS thread?
This past weekend we were supposed to have a decent size group of 4 or 5 for Mlambonja Pass and the Bell Traverse. Eventually it ended up being just 2 of us. It was an awesome hike, but a couple more people would've made it even better.

Rather head over to Ifidi Cave, its more out of the way and should preclude you from any "local interest". Water should still be fine and plentiful along the way...

I'm still on for my Mnweni loop with RiaanG, JacquesBuys and Hobbit

It is scary - my goal of 50 different High Berg passes is drawing near (between 37 and 41 depending on how you classify doing a pass and what a different pass is - debatable would be how I did Smugglers/Thuthumi and if Elephant Gully and Cockade variation gully constitute separate passes). My 100 khulu goal is also approaching, now up to 76 after Cockade this weekend. Might have to start setting myself some new goals soon...

That's a peaceful part of the Wilderness. Prob won't see anyone else.
I'll be in the Mnweni with MBC. Clear weather is forecast. As they say: It will be EPIC!

Many people have had their wish granted - it has snowed just before a long weekend:


I'm taking my mother up Thamathu Pass this weekend (I have been promising to take her up that pass for a few years now, she isn't a hiker but loves the Berg).

What is everyone else up to? Anyone else at Bushman's Nek this weekend?