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Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike

02 Apr 2014 14:18 #60151 by susanalkema
Replied by susanalkema on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
Thank you Tony! ;)

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02 Apr 2014 14:26 #60152 by Smurfatefrog
Replied by Smurfatefrog on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
This will be the view from your camp spot, from Ghaz's write up www.vertical-endeavour.com/media/kunena/attachments/567/Slide49.JPG

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02 Apr 2014 14:34 #60153 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
I did Long Wall Peak and Giant's Castle Peak on the same day, about 10 days ago. Writeup at www.vertical-endeavour.com/forum/drakensberg-trips/55534-giants-castle-traverse.html?start=10

Long Wall peak has one of the best views I have seen in the Berg (based on 40 out of 184 khulus summitted). Giant's Castle has a substantially better view than Long Wall though :laugh:

The flat ground above the pass was wet and marshy when we were there. The usable camping spots weren't near water. I was on top of the ridge where Smurf's yellow arrows are, so I don't know how those rivers look right now, but at least one of them was flowing well when I went past it in April 2012.

From the top of both Long Wall and Giant's you can clearly see Thabana Ntlenyana. But even if you don't go to the actual summit of Giant's Castle (which requires a moderately exposed scramble that may or may not have freaked me out big time :laugh: ) - the lookout spots near the top of the main peak are really awesome. We took 3 hours from stashing our packs at the top of the pass to reaching the summit and returning. So without a pack it still took a long time.

Enjoy - its an awesome part of the Berg :thumbsup:
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02 Apr 2014 14:52 #60155 by susanalkema
Replied by susanalkema on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
Thanks Ghaz, good advice!

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02 Apr 2014 15:00 #60156 by Viking
Replied by Viking on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
If you are going to camp where you have made that blue circle on your picture make sure you have a good tent as it could get very windy there.

The valley that Tony Marshall mentions getting water from has water quite high up (or it did two weeks ago) and also makes for a fairly sheltered and out of sight camping area. Just not as scenic as what you have in mind. A good back up perhaps?
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!”
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02 Apr 2014 21:56 #60166 by intrepid
Replied by intrepid on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
There is a very well established campsite at Makhaza (which is one of the better know ice climbing areas on Giant's Castle in the winter), which I have marked with a green circle. There are flattened areas for tents, even some stone walls built up as wind shelter. It may not be what you are looking for in terms of views though, since you look down into Lotheni instead of the Giants area. Directly to the right of the green spot in that distinct cut-back is the Makhaza Icefall where a lot of ice climbing is done in the winter. That whole notch becomes a sheet of ice in the winter in the upper rock band. This is due to a lot of seepage running down it. This seepage makes for a good water supply, even in the winter, and this adds to the usefulness of the camp spot.

Two things to note about this campspot: the red line I have drawn above it is a definite smuggling route going down Elandshoek Pass, so never leave your gear unattended there. Secondly avoid camping there in the winter unless you are ice climbing, and definitely try and avoid it in August by all means. Makhaza means cold and this spot definitely lives up to its name. Furthermore the winds are notoriously savage there, particularly in August, to point where several tents have actually been damaged.

Take nothing but litter, leave nothing but a cleaner Drakensberg.

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03 Apr 2014 07:49 #60167 by JonWells
Replied by JonWells on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike

intrepid wrote: the winds are notoriously savage there, particularly in August, to point where several tents have actually been damaged.


And if you dont believe Intrepid, check out the second half of this video :whistle:

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03 Apr 2014 13:20 #60179 by Viking
Replied by Viking on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
I never get tired of watching that video!
“Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So… get on your way!”

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04 Apr 2014 08:30 #60188 by susanalkema
Replied by susanalkema on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
Thank you Intrepid for the info. ;)

I think i'm going to opt for the blue circle...i don't want to be anywhere near a smuggling route. I don't sleep well near smuggling routes. So will miss out on awesome-er views, but still be able to view the Long Wall. The wind will have to blow...I think i'm gonna get two of those screw tent pegs or elbow ones for pinning it down properly.





That video is insane!! Thanks Jon. :woohoo:

I'm hoping it won't blow that insanely this Easter weekend. :blink:

For those that will be in that area Easter weekend...see you in the berg!! :thumbsup:

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04 Apr 2014 08:54 #60190 by ghaznavid
Replied by ghaznavid on topic Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike
I think Viking's point on this is a really good one - if you are slogging up Long Wall anyway, consider dropping down a bit on the north side. The summit of Long Wall had a cold breeze when we were up there, and even the summit of Giant's was still - so I think you'll be in for some real trouble if you camp on the summit.

The view from the camp site he was talking about:

ghaznavid wrote:


Its also close to water.

I would personally only camp on top of a ridge if I had no other choice, even in a R10k tent on a still day.

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