Mashai Fangs
05 Jun 2011 20:52 #3041
by ghaznavid
Mashai Fangs was created by ghaznavid
It has been said that basically everything in the Berg that is worth climbing has been climbed, but I somehow doubt that the person who said this was correct.
One of my favourite rock formations in the Berg is the Mashai Fangs:
For those of you who don't know about them, they are 4 large rock pillars (and a fifth small one) on the ridge directly below Random Peak at Garden Castle. Yesterday for the first time ever I realised that you can actually see them from the car park (I also noticed that my wallpaper on my computer has them hiding in the corner, I had been looking at them for 6 months everytime I turned my computer on, yet I never saw them, I blame this fact on how clearly I can see Rhino, Mlambonja, Random and the Mashai Pass in the photo that is my wallpaper). They are very clear from about 60% of the way up the Mashai Pass (just before you reach the cliff line).
This rock formation which has a sheer rock face on its south side, is accessible by a very steep climb up a small tributary of the Mlambonja river on its northern side, and based on my understanding of rock climbing (which is incredibly limited since I don't do rock climbing), these would be incredibly technical to climb. In addition to this, they have no relevance in terms of height and are not in a region of the Berg that is heavily publicised. Due to this, I am seriously doubting that these have ever been climbed, and if they have, I doubt that all 5 have been climbed. Does anyone know of any attempts (whether or not they where successful) on this formation?
One of my favourite rock formations in the Berg is the Mashai Fangs:
For those of you who don't know about them, they are 4 large rock pillars (and a fifth small one) on the ridge directly below Random Peak at Garden Castle. Yesterday for the first time ever I realised that you can actually see them from the car park (I also noticed that my wallpaper on my computer has them hiding in the corner, I had been looking at them for 6 months everytime I turned my computer on, yet I never saw them, I blame this fact on how clearly I can see Rhino, Mlambonja, Random and the Mashai Pass in the photo that is my wallpaper). They are very clear from about 60% of the way up the Mashai Pass (just before you reach the cliff line).
This rock formation which has a sheer rock face on its south side, is accessible by a very steep climb up a small tributary of the Mlambonja river on its northern side, and based on my understanding of rock climbing (which is incredibly limited since I don't do rock climbing), these would be incredibly technical to climb. In addition to this, they have no relevance in terms of height and are not in a region of the Berg that is heavily publicised. Due to this, I am seriously doubting that these have ever been climbed, and if they have, I doubt that all 5 have been climbed. Does anyone know of any attempts (whether or not they where successful) on this formation?
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06 Jun 2011 07:11 #3043
by intrepid
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
Replied by intrepid on topic Re: Mashai Fangs
References to these fangs have always been about the "Inner" and "Outer" Fang, which I've assumed to be the 2 most prominent. These 2 have definitely been climbed, the outer one having 2 different routes. See MCSA Route Description: kzn.mcsa.org.za/climbing/route-guides/drakensberg-rds/rhino
There is also a peak named "Panic Pile" somewhere around there which I've never been able to figure out. And a classic 150m knife ridge associated with the fangs. A legendary climber called Des Watkins, who died about 2 years ago, spent a lot of time climbing in this area, it was his favourite. He also opened up several routes on the The Rhino. There is a good chance that he climbed most of these pinnacles. And together with Peter and Pam Angus-Leppan, who knows what they left untouched. When they opened up Ukkicane in the Mnweni Cutback, it is said that they climbed all the minor pinnacles associated with it that same day. One might have to dig up the MCSA journals for more details.
There is also a peak named "Panic Pile" somewhere around there which I've never been able to figure out. And a classic 150m knife ridge associated with the fangs. A legendary climber called Des Watkins, who died about 2 years ago, spent a lot of time climbing in this area, it was his favourite. He also opened up several routes on the The Rhino. There is a good chance that he climbed most of these pinnacles. And together with Peter and Pam Angus-Leppan, who knows what they left untouched. When they opened up Ukkicane in the Mnweni Cutback, it is said that they climbed all the minor pinnacles associated with it that same day. One might have to dig up the MCSA journals for more details.
Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.
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