Giants Castle Pass and Peak hike

Many thanks to all the input.

@Smurf: I think we should be okay with doing this trip if nothing unforeseen happens, which is part of the fun I guess. It gives me a little ease of mind knowing that we should be able to do it, although I am under no impression that it will be a breeze. I will take what you said regarding the weather at Makhaza into consideration on the day that we are in that area.

@JonWells: Thank you for the alternate camp site and possible water source. I think we will see what the weather is like on the day and decide at the top between either Makhaza or your proposed camp site. It is always a great thing to have options!

@Riaan: I had a look at that video and it looks real intense, thanks for the heads up. I believe our tent will be strong enough and hopefully our determination as well, it is always good to have an idea of what to expect.

I have read a couple of additional threads on the Giants Castle via Giants pass route and it really helps with all the photos and such. Does anyone have a gps track for the route up to giants pass or some coordinates that might be helpful?

At this stage it looks like one of my friends and his wife might join us. I found out they are planning to hike Kilimanjaro next year and I am busy trying to persuade him it will be good training for them.

Thank you all for all the info. This site never seems to disappoint and that is wonderful.

Hi Guys

Could not find an introduction board, most forums crap on your head if you don't visit there first? Apologies if I missed it.

I'm a Drakensberg newbie, no experience as yet. Have some Cape mountain experience, and I am running well at the moment (starting to ramp up vertical, but limited opportunities in Midrand). Starting to plan my first few trips, hoping to get my feet wet with a Giants Castle summit via Giants Pass and then later a Giants -> Sani one way trippie, slowly working up to a DGT.

My two younger brothers attempted a fast DGT Dec 2015, with no Berg experience, and gave up being soaked for two days and 70 km. Under-thinking things sometimes leads to adventure, but they seriously underestimated it. So the ultimate plan is to build up slowly and get some experience first before going again, at the right time of year.

Limitations are money, time and leave (must be a common problem). So, most trips will be fast and furious, weekends, long weekends at most. Fastpacking if you'd like.

I'm also very much under-equipped, will start working on that first.

Some questions:

1. Is an Etrex 10 adequate for berg navigation with fixed tracks? I used a 30 for off-road motorcycle navigation, but don't have it anymore. Would prefer two 10's to one 30, and budget is tight. I know the 10 cannot take maps, so I guess the 20 and 30 is better if the SHTF.

2. Is there a overnight cave at or near Giant's summit or on the Pass?

3. How is the security situation roundabout Giant's nowadays?

4. Is it possible to enter Lesotho via an uncontrolled point like Giant's and exit via a controlled on like Sani?

Thanks in advance, really looking forward to getting to experience more of the Berg.

Hi LSS

Welcome to VE. It's a bit more relaxed here than on GS so don't stress.

I haven't done this exact loop so can't really comment but it should be doable. I have however done a good few hikes so can give some comments / tips:

- Buy the best and lightest equipment that you can (I have two of almost every item you need for a hike... the first purchase and then a second better lighter purchase. Works out more expensive this way.) Buy once cry once. Good kit lasts a long time.

- I finished a relatively fast GT a few months ago after a failed first attempt 2 years ago due to injury. Don't set your goal on GT's now. Enjoy the Berg for what it is first. Get to know the areas and what makes each area special. The amphitheater and Mnweni areas are closest to Gauteng so I have done those areas quite often and are a favourite of mine.

- Test your kit and your food over time. Then test it on a fast short hike. Then a long hike. Then a GT. Weight is a killer... See my first tip above.

- Running is a good way to get and stay fit but you also need to do some vertical ascents with a pack on your back to get your legs used to the weight. Train with more than you will actually carry.

Enjoy the journey

There is a 4 sleeper cave at 3100m on the west side of giants pass. Easy to find, if you know where to look (and impossible if you don't)). Stand at the top of Giants Pass, facing south, walk around the boulders to your right, get to the top of the ridge, and follow the grassy ledge around the corner, staying on the north side of the ridge coming off Long Wall, i.e. the escarpment edge side, not the "flat" side. The cave is about 300m further. It has a rock wall, hard to miss if you are looking in the right place. Those instructions are probably as clear as mud, so hopefully someone has a gps co-ords.

To help clarify the above, here's a shot of the approach and the cave itself:

Hi Ghaz,

I'd like to find this overhang myself, haven't been to Giants in 2 years but I can't place your directions into context from what I remember the terrain to look like. You state that:"Stand at the top of Giants Pass, facing south, walk around the boulders to your right, get to the top of the ridge...."

If I stand at the top of the pass and I am facing South (i.e. down towards Lotheni side), there are no rocks on my right, they are on my left. Or are you saying that one needs to walk way down towards the path and then still a bit further down? I'm confused, please help me get my bearings straight here. Maybe indicate the spot on a Google Earth image, that would help me to know where to start looking. Only caves I know about are the ones lower down the pass, or then if you are standing at the top of the pass looking down, the overhang to your left (i.e. towards long wall side)

Here's a visual form of what I said - complete with said boulders...


But the easier explanation would be this:


As you can see, big grassy ledge at the height just above the top of the pass. Follow that.

Thanks, got it. It's the overhang on the Long wall side. What confused me is not the boulders you mentioned, but the fact that you mentioned that they would be on my right hand side when facing South, when they are on the left. Confusion cleared up, thanks.

Instructions using genetic boulders on a mountain is a bit like saying "turn left at the tree" when giving directions through a forest!