The Bell Traverse

wrote:

 I have the habit of scanning through the mountain register every time and a notable observation from my recent visits to the Didima area (in comparison to previous times), is the growth in the number of groups that do the Bell Traverse. When I started out hiking, the route had a bit of stigma to it and before I got to know the likes of Basecamp and VE, I can vividly remember looking at the marked red section of the route on the map and being a bit "afraid" of the unknown. 


 

Interesting thought and I would agree. The hardcopy maps have the marking of which shows climbing/ropes/difficulty which did used to keep people on other routes and away from the Bell Traverse. There was even a set of years when the rangers at Cathedral Peak declared the section 'closed' or 'to be closed' - the latter with some intentional ambiguity I seem to remember. In other words enough to keep people away without having to do anything at all.

I wonder if the security situation on the escarpment has led to the Bell Traverse becoming more popular? You get 2-3 days in among the mountains with the best of views onto the escarpment but without having to contend in a direct way with potential trouble on the escarpment or in Lesotho itself. There are not many non-escarpment, high traverses like this one in the Berg. Perhaps this is the only contender.

Another possible explanation for the popularity of the Bell Traverse may rest with the relative solitude that the route provides. During the summer months and shoulder seasons, the escarpment has lost its remoteness. In places it is now more like walking through a farm yard.
 

Over the years I have become more cautious. Having done the BT a few times I never blinked in the past, but decided against it over the last couple of years. I also flipped through the register and see on Facebook as well that large hiking groups are spending more and more time in the mountains. None of the trails out of the first couple of km have seen any sort of maintenance over the last few years either. We were at Cathedral Peak when the pathology van left, and we found out what had happened. We had just walked in from a 40km round trip not incl BT and were quite concerned with a few of the sections we traversed. Attached a couple of pictures to make the wary cautious.
Sincere condolences to the family and hiking party for their loss.

I am planning to do this with a guide at the end of December this year. Would that be a bad/dangerous time of year to do this weather-wise?

It depends on the weather!

Decembers are typically hot with thundershowers in the afternoon. There are a couple of spots you have to be careful in the wet, but if you take your time at these obstacles and go slow, you should be fine.

Buggers Gulch could be "interesting" in the rain. I've done it in the wet a couple of times, and I've found that a small amount of moisture actually compacts the loose sand nicely, making it easier to get up and over it. Slippery mud could be dangerous here. On the other hand, I've also done it a couple of times in winter and can warn you to be careful of ice in the gully, which makes it slippery. Also, when completely dry, it can be slippery.

So as you can see from the above, there is never really a "perfect" time to hike in the berg. Go whenever you want to, but just be cognisant of the conditions you can experience on the trails, and prepare accordingly, and you should be fine.

Whenever you go, enjoy!!!

Thanks for the info. I have told my guide that I would like to start at 06h00 each morning. Hopefully we can reach the respective caves before the showers start in the afternoons.

Has anyone done the Bell Traverse recently? I'm considering doing it at some point between Wednesday and Monday next week, and I'm wondering what the condition of the traverse is at the moment considering the recent rains. Thanks

Hi GDF,

Heading off to do the Bell Traverse this weekend. Did you do it? Any intel to share? We going via Orange Peel gap and then back down Malambonje Pass.
Thanks!
Greg

Hi GDF and Gregdutoit,

Any feed-back from your Bell traverse you recently did?
We heading out on the 11th of May 2022 back by Monday the 16th. I will update VE on the BT when I return. I was more curious of the water situation. We doing the standard Shermans, (last water) Orange Peel,  Bell cave, Twins back down Mlamboja home. We are prepared for close to no water but would love shed a litre or two  before the climb.

There is a stream in the valley before you head up to Bugger's Gulch. You need to drop down a bit, but it's quick; it should be running at this time of year, especially after the heavy rains. We filled up there and still ran short by Twins. There is also a slow drip in an overhang on Outer Horn, but it's very slow.

wrote:

There is a stream in the valley before you head up to Bugger's Gulch. You need to drop down a bit, but it's quick; it should be running at this time of year, especially after the heavy rains. We filled up there and still ran short by Twins. There is also a slow drip in an overhang on Outer Horn, but it's very slow.





 

Even at the end of the dry season I have found water at RealDave’s spot - look out for a couple of trees and a little waterfall. Easiest to drop down straight from the path than to descend the gully itself. Only found this source after 15 years of carrying all water up Orange peel to Bell cave in the dry months from that waterfall just an hour from the hotel