The upcoming hikes thread

Pine tree working hike on the long weekend in March.

We will be going up Jacob's Ladder on Saturday 19th March, to Vaalribbokkop Cave. Relatively easy hike. Will stay over for 2 nights in Vaalribbokkop Cave, and do work on the pines in the surrounding area. Return on Monday 21st March, a public holiday.

Although this is a working hike, it is also great fun and work is at your own pace.

With the approval and assistance of the EKZNW Conservation Manager for the area.

We already have a fair sized group, but space for 2 more.

PM if interested.

@ Dave re the JHB MCSA Injasuti meet over Easter (25-28 Mar)
Logistics not 100% sorted yet, but the idea is to get to about Centenary Hut on Friday. Late start is thus possible.
Then up corner pass and across to the valley below Upper Injasuti Cave on Sat (I was too slow off the mark to book the cave so tents it will be).
On Sunday, whatever suits your fancy: climb a triplet, hike about or go on a bigger mission, all planning to get back to same campsite that night.
On Monday, walk down Leslies

Looks like the mountains will be teaming with VE eees during Easter!! Elinda and our group will be tenting above the Red Wall on Friday night and in the valley below Upper iNjasuti Cave on Sat night. We will come up Leslies on Thursday and go down either Corner or Judges on Sunday. See you all there

All your trips sounds amazing!

I want to take a few friends to the Drakensberg over the long weekend (18-21 March). We perviously did the Amphi and that is when they were hooked on hiking, so preferably not the amphi again.

Can anyone suggest a 3-day route where we can summit but not via a pass where a fear of height could be an issue? Someone in our group is a bit afraid of height but wants to sleep on top of the berg.

Maybe something like Corner Pass where you go up via a gully an not a zig-zag foot path?

If they have a fear of heights - Corner Pass may not be a great choice. The lower scramble is 3m high with a dropoff next to you.

Bannerman Pass could work well, though. It is a nice pass, and you follow the gully the entire way up. You could loop it with Langalibalele Pass for a nice easy 3 dayer (I believe the FKT for this route is something like 4 hours). Perhaps night 1 in Bannerman Hut, night 2 in Bannerman Cave. If that route is too easy - Judge Pass is awesome and can be connected with either Langies or Bannerman. North Jarding is another direction in which you could extend the route - it is a lovely pass with no real exposure issues (and no trail). The other Jarding Passes aren't that great, though*.

If you want something completely different, you could always head to the Free State Berg and go up Dagga Nek Pass. It is a mission to get to, but if you have a 4X4 (and really good off-road skills), there is a jeep track to a spot right near the pass. There is a solid trail the entire way up the pass (my GPS track is under downloads). I can't comment on the other passes in the area, aside from the fact that there are lots of other passes around there. You can hike from there to Witsieshoek in 3 days, but it is quite far. When AndrewP and I did the Free State traverse last year, Witsieshoek dropped us off right by the base of the pass, and we finished there via the Chain Ladders.

* just to clarify - when I say they aren't great, the middle one is the only one with a bit of exposure. But Middle and South are both relatively boring as Berg passes go - easily the least interesting of the passes I have done.

- Bannerman Pass could work well, though. It is a nice pass, and you follow the gully the entire way up. You could loop it with Langalibalele Pass for a nice easy 3 dayer (I believe the FKT for this route is something like 4 hours). Perhaps night 1 in Bannerman Hut, night 2 in Bannerman Cave. If that route is too easy
- Judge Pass is awesome and can be connected with either Langies or Bannerman.
- North Jarding is another direction in which you could extend the route. It is a lovely pass with no real exposure issues (and no trail). The other Jarding Passes aren't that great, though*.

Hy Ghaz, where do you think it is possible to download the tracks, if they are ?

ghaznavid wrote: ...Bannerman Pass could work well.

Thanks Gaz, I took your advice. We are going to do that route next weekend.

Does anyone know of a good camping spot near Giants Castle when we are on our way the Friday night? We usually camp at the Sterkfontein dam campsite, always neat. Or at the "Bergville Chalets and Caravan Park". But that is still a bit far away from Giants Castle where we start. According to Giants Castle website they do not have camping spots (that would be ideal), only chalets.

When I was in Jhb and came down to Giants I used to camp in Escourt resort at the Wagendrift dam. Then drive down from there past White mountain inn.

GerritHuman wrote: Does anyone know of a good camping spot near Giants Castle when we are on our way the Friday night?

Mountain Shadows is quite nice, it is about 5km along the Highmoor road. You can also pitch tents at the Giants Castle picnic site - just ask permission in advance, and there are no facilities aside from toilets. The gate closes at something like 9 or 10 at night.