Winter hiking in the Drakensberg

Be especially careful with your sleeping bag - when it snows, it can get very cold. If my history is correct, I believe -27 is the coldest ever recorded in the Berg - perhaps someone can confirm that or provide a more definite number?

Don't get me wrong - it doesn't usually get that cold, just be aware that it can get very cold. www.vertical-endeavour.com%2Fforum%2F14-drakensberg-general%2F55402-emergency-bivy-protocol.html has some discussion on how to survive when your gear isn't warm enough for the conditions you are in.

Remember that a tent with another person in it is about 5 degrees warmer than a cave, and that all the money in the world won't buy you a warmer sleeping bag when you are shivering up there - so get a good one before you set out.

As a reference point I have a North Face Blue Kazoo bag rated at -7 comfort to -23 extreme conditions. It's also light at 1.2kg and I have never found it lacking in over a decade of use in the berg.

You don't need this kind of warmth at low altitude, especially in other seasons but for high Berg conditions it's great. I also have a Reactor thermal liner (240gms) which is supposed to add 8 degrees of warmth but don't find I need it, even in winter. I would recommend this for ladies though because they can struggle to warm up the bag and it provides instant warmth.

Hope this helps...

Thanks ASL, Ghaz your advice helps plenty

@ASL, do you think my FA ice breaker will do the job up there? also picked up from other posts that the liners don't work that well?

Great news for me on the bag

Can I ask where you are checking for snow forecasts please?

I was pointed to www.mountain-forecast.com/peaks/Cathedral-Peak-2/forecasts/3004
Just change the height that your looking to climb to.
Otherwise check out the snow watch posts

I did a snow hike in September 2012, which was incredible. Here is the link to my blog:

hikingandtravellling.blogspot.com/2012_09_01_archive.html

As to gear that you would need:

Knee high gaiters with waterproof boots and rain pants will make sure you stay dry in the snow.
Waterproof gloves with thin gloves underneath to keep you hands warm.
Your FA sleeping bag rated -7 deg should be fine, especially if you share a tent with someone.

Sabine, if there's a good fall this season, would you be keen to do another snow hike?

I would, depending when that would be...